The Tourism Department is holding a competition to select dancers to perform at the 165th Emancipation Celebration on St. Croix and dance groups from the territory are invited to compete for the prize is $5,000 and the opportunity for future public performances.

"We want to give local performers an opportunity to showcase their talent," Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson Doty said in a press release. "The competition adds a new dimension to the celebration,” she said, expanding the selection process and treating the community to “a lively and educational event."

As part of the official Emancipation Celebration events to be held at Fort Frederik Museum on July 3, dance groups will be required to present a re-enactment of the emancipation of slaves on St. Croix.

Groups will be judged on a variety of criteria including authenticity, attire, performance, ability to convey the message, music, performance time and overall impression. Judging will take into consideration the use of drumming, singing, dramatization and other necessary musical accompaniment as well as dance choreography.

In addition to expert judges, members of the audience will have a chance to vote for their favorite dance groups via texts from their cell phones, the release said.

The competition will take place at 7 p.m. June 15 at Island Center on St. Croix. To register, contact Diana Brown at 774-8784 by May 13.