There is no need to jet off-island to enjoy performances, as the local arts scene is varied and vibrant. Whether it’s music, drama or dance, there are events and classes throughout the year.
MUSIC
With nearly every genre of music performed in Cayman, fans of everything from calypso to classical can look forward to an evening of enjoyment.
While reggae is the heartbeat of the Caribbean, there are influences from all over the world, matching Cayman’s multi-national community.
Given any evening, you can hear performers at bars and hotels, and there are also frequent festivals catering to an array of tastes, which promote homegrown talent and feature visiting stars.
You’ll hear the spectrum from soca and steel pan to dancehall, R&B, rock, blues, jazz, orchestral performances and choral music.
Big events on the annual calendar include Cayman Arts Festival in February, Capella in April and Out of this World Music Festival in June. Also look out for performances by Cayman National Choir and Cayman National Orchestra as well as other gifted groups.
DRAMA
Cayman Drama Society is a vibrant community theatre group which puts on plays at the 130-seat Prospect Playhouse.
Each year volunteers from cast and crew offer up between four and six shows, normally including at least one musical theatre production and the annual Playhouse Family Christmas production.
As well as attending shows, people can also become involved with Cayman Drama Society as a volunteer. The group is always looking for enthusiastic thespians, directors, producers, stage managers, lighting and sound technicians. Visit cds.ky for information as well as information on upcoming productions.
The nine-acre F.J. Harquail Cultural Centre and Campus houses the Harquail Theatre, which serves as the national theatre of the Cayman Islands.
Events at the 300-seat venue include plays, musicals, dance recitals and poetry readings, as well as arts and crafts exhibitions.
The centre is managed by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF), which organises CayFest in the spring, a festival showcase which typically starts off the season with Red Sky at Night. This event showcases local artists, artisans and a Caymanian village, including rope-making, swanky and thatching, along with storytelling and performances by the Cayman Islands Folk Singers.
CNCF also puts on Gimistory, the international storytelling festival of the Cayman Islands, which features storytellers from Cayman, the wider Caribbean and beyond. Gimistory is the highly anticipated kick-off to the holiday season in November and December.
Wha Happening is another annual CNCF partnership, taking place this year in October at the F.J. Harquail Cultural Centre. The production by Matt Brown is a fast-paced mix of stand-up, parodies, and sketches on contemporary Cayman life. The show will feature a variety of Cayman-specific sketches covering topics such as the George Town landfill, dating, traffic issues, and CARIFTA athletes. Visit artscayman.org for information on CNCF events.
DANCE
A large section of the performing arts in Cayman, especially for children, is dancing, with several studios offering classes.
Cayman Islands National Dance Company has performed locally and internationally for the past three decades, including local beauty pageants, Pirates Week and for charitable organisations. The group stages not-to-be missed performances, such as the recent two-night showcase of ‘Flava’.
Radiance Dance Studio, established by Jessica Eden, offer classes for children aged 3 to 17, teaching everything from Caribbean rhythm and hip hop, to jazz and contemporary. This is a great chance for children to have fun and keep fit, or get a good grounding to be a serious dancer. Through the studio’s carefully crafted curriculum, dancers develop strong techniques, while exploring their creativity and personal expression.
Dreamchasers Cayman, set up by Melisha Mcfield, is another local dance company, which, since being founded in 2017, has become a favourite among artists who want to pursue a dance career. The dance company is fuelled by a desire to create and learn through collaborations with the very best artists across all art disciplines. The rules at Dreamchasers Cayman are simple: think big, take risks, avoid compromise, explore the unfamiliar, and tell stories through dance in a compelling and relevant manner.
Centre Pointe studio styles itself as the home of the performing arts, offering dance classes in all genres, with training started for children as young as 9 months, through to adult levels. The studio offers classes in a variety of genres from ballet to Irish and musical theatre. Run by mother-and-daughter Anita Gough and Sophie Conolly, classes aim to develop children’s performing arts skills to the highest level.
This article originally appeared in the 2024 Love Local newspaper supplement.
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