Dominica's Carnival season opens

Calypso bands and costumed revelers danced though the narrow lanes of Dominica's capital as the lush tropical island's annual Carnival season kicked off.

Thousands of people lined the streets of Roseau over the weekend for the celebration's opening to shimmy to Caribbean dance beats as masqueraders in ornate sequined costumes and towering headdresses marched past in formation.

Several old-timers said the festival's opening day wasn't as impressive as in past years, but Dennis Sushvo, a tourist from the Ukraine, was dazzled.

"This is beautiful! I love it," Sushvo shouted above the pulsing beat of drums as people wearing the traditional "sensay" costume, a full-body outfit made from vinyl bags and ropes with a face mask, strutted by.

As in many Caribbean nations, Carnival in Dominica is an annual rite of dancing, colorful costumes and tradition. The event took hold after the end of slavery in the region in 1834.

Dominica's Carnival celebrations will culminate with a band competition on Feb. 19-20. The island is a former British colony of about 70,000 people.