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The SANFEST Young Star Committee, together with the San Fernando Arts Council, is on a mission to inspire and uplift the incredible talents of our youth—our nation’s brightest treasures!
As SANFEST celebrates its 55th year, it eagerly welcomes a new generation of young stars ready to shine and make their mark.
Introducing Xynai Rameshwar, a dazzling dancer born on May 17, 2014. Xynai has been dancing since she was just two years old, and her passion for the arts knows no bounds!
A student at Sacred Heart Girls’ RC School, she loves to dance, play tennis, sing, and even create art. Her vibrant personality shines through in everything she does!
At only five years old, Xynai wowed everyone at SANFEST 2019, winning the title of Most Outstanding Female Dancer. In 2020, she became the Junior Queen of Carnival (School Division), proving that hard work and dedication truly pay off.
Recently, she was crowned SANFEST Young Star 2025 at the Naparima Bowl! Currently, she is honing her skills at the Aunty Afiya Academy for Dance, where she learns exciting styles like folk, contemporary, Afro-Fusion, and Hip-Hop.
Xynai’s enthusiasm and creativity inspire her friends and family, showing everyone that dreams can come true with passion and perseverance.
Meet Javier Thorpe, a ten-year-old musical genius from La Horquetta, Arima. Javier’s love for music began when he was just one year old! He would turn everyday objects into drums, using spoons and pencils to create his own beats. By age two, he received his first drum set, and his passion only grew from there.
Javier has been part of the Music Ministry at his church and has performed at many events, including the 2020 Junior Panorama Finals. After the pandemic, he joined the Sui Generis Sound Drumming Academy, where he continued to shine and collect awards for his talent. At eight years old, he discovered the steel pan and quickly fell in love with it, performing at various events and sharing his joy with others.
Now, he is a proud student at Speak Life Music Studio, where he plays the steelpan, drums, and keyboard.
Javier’s creativity doesn’t stop with music! He enjoys building with Legos, playing board games, and riding his bicycle. His favourite subject in school is music, and he dreams of creating beautiful melodies that will inspire others.
On May 10, he proudly earned the title of Mr SANFEST Young Star!
Both Xynai and Javier remind us that with hard work, creativity, and a little bit of courage, we can all reach for the stars! They are shining examples of what it means to follow your dreams and inspire those around you. So, let their stories motivate you to chase your passions and shine bright in your own unique way!
Mary Cuffy is an educator and local children’s author. Ms Cuffy is the author of the Ladybug book series. Ms Cuffy believes the best investment we can make in children is in the early years. Email: [email protected] • IG: marycuffy • FB: mary cuffy/Lola and the Dancing Ladybug
English (US) ·