Following the unprecedented success of last year’s inaugural event, Four Seasons Zuvaanunge Saqaafee Vaadha (Four Seasons Youth Culture Competition) is returning for a second year – and the format is even bigger and bolder than before.

Organized by Four Seasons Resorts Maldives and Male’-based cultural arts institution Varutha, this year’s competition extends beyond Baa Atoll to the youth of the four atolls within the North Province – Baa, Raa, Noonu and Lahviyani; a total of 47 islands in total.

The competition is open to groups of young performers aged 15-25 years, and will see them competing for a prize of MRF 100,000 to fund a community project and MRF 10,000 cash for themselves.

The first round of competition will take place in the form of a closed audition from June 3 to 9 at Four Seasons Resort Landaa Giraavaru, Baa Atoll.

The best two teams from each atoll (eight teams in total) will then be invited to attend an intensive workshop – held by Varutha at Landaa Giraavaru from July 1 to14 – to hone their skills under the expert guidance of some of the country’s leading bodu beru performers.

The final round of competition will take place at Baa Kamadhoo on Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1, 2012.

Announcing this year’s competition, Landaa Giraavaru’s General Manager and Four Seasons Regional Vice President Armando Kraenzlin said: “We’re delighted to be widening the scope of the competition so extensively in only its second year. The whole nation got behind last year’s event thanks to its live television coverage, and we’re looking forward to highlighting the hidden talent of even more Maldivian youth this year. It’s a real feel-good contest.”

The competition was launched in 2011 to commemorate Baa Atoll’s designation as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and to promote cultural values and sustainability among local youth. Its expansion this year has also been welcomed by Varutha’s co-founder, Sham’aa Abdullah Hameed (Anna): “This competition is exactly the kind of thing the Maldives needs to reinstate national pride, bridge rifts between generations and philosophies and foster national identity amongst Maldivians.”

Based on their performances in the event, teams will be awarded points by a panel of judges. The strict judging criteria – including group size (no less than 16 and no more than 26) and overall presentation, cohesion, authenticity and originality – will be formally communicated to teams in advance, followed by a grace period to allow teams to clarify any issues or concerns.

Four Seasons in the Community

Four Seasons Resorts Maldives has been involved in pioneering marine and community-minded initiatives since 2001. It employs a total of 18 marine biologists on projects including Reefscapers – one of the most successful reef regeneration projects of its kind in the world – and The Maldivian Sea Turtle Conservation Program, a series of projects established to protect, monitor, relocate, release, rear and rehabilitate Maldivian sea turtles. The Resorts also run Four Seasons Hospitality Apprenticeship Program – the country’s first TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training)-certified Apprenticeship scheme – now in its eleventh successful year.

Varutha came into existence in 2007 when the prominent and popular Meenaz bodu beru group recognized the need for a formally registered and organized institution to study, train, and revive the dying cultural arts of the Maldives. Varutha symbolizes a unique mix of authenticity, creativity, and sophistication previously unseen in this field. The current popularity of bodu beru is testament to Varutha’s success in breeding talented youth with the trademark blend of fundamental technique and innovative style.