Alicia Roache-The Rising Stars, from left, Inga, Romain, Lenya and Jodi, pose on the steps of the Grill King, where they enjoyed delicious food and a reggae jam session with the house DJ.

By Alicia Roache, Entertainment Co-ordinator
Willemstad, Curaçao

They are a phenomenon in Jamaica and surely after two sparkling performances in Curaçao on Wednesday night, they will be a phenomenon there too.

The Rising Stars' first performance took place at the Mambo Beach, where the crowd was small, and despite much prodding, the native and predominantly Caucasian people seemed not interested in gathering for the scheduled 20 minute show.

Romain, Jodiann, Inga and Lenya arrived at the beach at about 8: 30 p.m. on Wednesday. They were there for a scheduled performance that Executive Producer Paula Pinnock-MacLeod managed to get a preview of on local radio. However, despite this, not many people had gathered. Reggae is not such a popular sound on the island.

But the Rising Stars proved themselves troopers and performed nonetheless in front of just over 20 people.

truly spectacular

When the first note was struck by Inga, who performed first, the movement began, and not just by those gathered in front of the small stage, but those reclining on the large beach chairs got up to look and listen.

The performances were truly spectacular. Their voices soared, their movements were precise and the songs, among them, Tina Turner's She works Hard for The Money, The Guardian Angel Medley, Amy Winehouse's Rehab and Marvin Gaye's Lets Get it On, hit hard and got members of the crowd dancing

The Rising Stars were truly in their element. There was no pressure, no judges and the audience was small and intimate. Even the usually reserved Jodiann came down into the crowd to dance with one of the men.

They left Mambo Beach for Hook's Hut after refreshments. The Hook's Hut is where the party happens on a Wednesday night and the 'Party' was happening when the Rising Stars arrived.

Salsa music played as the house band kept the crowd moving. They were none too enthused when their party was interrupted to allow the performance.

However, once the 'Stars' took the stage, everything changed. The stunned impressed silence was soon replaced by dancing and the few who knew the words to songs from Bob Marley and Marcia Griffiths began also to sing along.

Again, Lenya, Inga, Romain and Jodi took it to the crowd which was left dazed and impressed at the end.

There were repeated requests for encores, though they could not be met, and many people came up to congratulate the Rising Stars and ask whether they were 'famous'.

They left as they had come, with the attention of the entire club focused on them, this time not because they were unwelcome guests but because the visitors had left too soon.