MassKara nights kick off

CEBU, Philippines - The Bacolod public plaza will turn into a carnival celebration as the “Nights of Mardi Gras” kicks off at 8:30 tonight with 50 dancers dressed in fantasy costumes and masks accompanied by live drumbeats.

The carnival dancers will convert the San Juan, Gonzaga and Gatuslao sides of the plaza into one big street party, said Rudy Reveche, chair of special events and street dance committees of the MassKara Festival.

In partnership with ABS-CBN and MOR 101.5, the “Nights of Mardi Gras” will run from October 9 to 11.The contest is open to everyone and has no age limit.

Competing tonight are 50 elaborately dressed dancers with character make-up or face paint. They will be trimmed down to 30 for the second performance night tomorrow, October 10. They will again be trimmed down to 20 during the final night on October 11 before the Top 10 winners will be named.

The 50 participants on the first night and 30 qualifiers during the second night will each receive P500. The champion will receive P15,000 in cash; the first runner-up will receive P10,000; the second runner-up will receive P5,000 and the remaining Top 7 winners will receive P1,000 each. —/JMO (FREEMAN)