D’Midas International New York presents ‘D’ Way: A Journey Through Life’

The Brooklyn-based D’Midas International New York is hoping to maintain its winning ways in capturing, among other titles, this year’s “Band of the Year” in the West Indian-American Day Carnival Parade on Labor Day Monday.

“I don’t make costumes to lose,” Glen Turnbull, the band’s Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI)-born co-producer and designer, told Caribbean Life in an interview at the mas camp, at 1619 Nostrand Avenue, between Tilden Avenue and Beverley Road in Brooklyn, as the band presents this year “D’ Way: A Journey Through Life”.

“I’m expecting to win Junior King, Junior Queen, Male and Female Character, and Band of the Year,” he added. 

Last year, the band won Junior King and Band of the Year for children with “Then and Now: The Past, the Present and the Future.”

D’ EmpressNelson A. King

This year, Turnbull said “D’Way: A Journey Through Life” is produced with Trinidadian Cheryl Johnson and Chavonte Perkins, of Trinidadian and Grenadian heritage. 

“This year, I want to play what nobody else will play,” Turnbull said. “We call it ‘A Journey Through Life’ because, as humans, we go through different things. 

“With that in mind, we have costumes that represent different things,” he added. 

Turnbull said the nine sections, with 10-15 masqueraders in each section, comprise: Pearls, Fire Coral, Tallin, Kalina, Todas, Daval, Humana, Botanica and Pixey.

Goddess of D’ SkyNelson A. King

He also said the two male and female characters will include a Junior King, portraying “King Midas”, and Junior Queen, portraying “Empress of the Sky.”

“On stage, the audience will see color, mas on the move and a superb presentation,” Turnbull said. 

As she worked on a costume, Johnson said the activity is keeping her mind “free from mom’s death.” 

Her mother died on Feb. 10, at Coney Island Hospital, after sustaining vehicular injuries. 

“Plus, I like to see the smiles on the children’s faces,” Johnson added. 

You can call Turnbull at (718) 809-1017 or Johnson at (718) 462-6137.