Local musicians, singers and dancers gave a taste of Caymankind ahead of the upcoming Caribbean Festival of Arts, CARIFESTA XV, in Barbados, during the ‘Carifesta Home Show’, held at Harquail Theatre on Saturday night, 16 Aug.
An 84-member delegation, led by Culture and Heritage Minister Isaac Rankine and Chief Officer Teresa Echenique, will travel to Barbados this week to represent the Cayman Islands at CARIFESTA, where they will join their Caribbean neighbours and showcase Cayman’s arts and culture, including music, poetry, dance, theatre and visual arts.
The Caribbean Festival of Arts is a regional celebration of Caribbean culture, arts and creativity, to be held this year in Barbados from 22-31 Aug., under the theme ‘Caribbean Roots. Global Excellence”.
Cayman’s delegation, representing various disciplines, includes UCCI Dance Company and the Cayman Islands National Dance company as a combined group, Cayman Islands Folk Singers, the local band Heat, the local short film ‘Ivan’ by Jazz Pitcairn, and several craft artisans.
A taste of talent, creativity and passion
During the showcase, the audience was seen dancing, clapping and grooving to the sounds of the Folk Singers, performing their well-known repertoire of traditional songs.
Local performers Brent Mclean and Vashti Bodden turned up the ‘Heat’ with their set of original music.
The combined dance group, the Cayman Islands National Dance Company, delivered high-energy performances through movement across several genres of music.
During his remarks, Minister Rankine noted, this opportunity will carry Cayman’s story to the regional stage.
“One of the priorities of the ministry is the preservation and the celebration of Caymanian culture and heritage, and it is through teaching, sharing and learning, not only here in Cayman but abroad in other countries, of Caymanian culture and heritage that will keep our traditions alive, and they will also continue to inspire generations to come,” he said.
Rankine said Cayman’s participation is not just showcasing our talent, but “it’s about connecting, it’s about learning from our Caribbean brothers and sisters, while proudly sharing with them the songs, dances and stories that make the Cayman Islands who we are, so they can know where we are from.”
A statement to the Compass from the Ministry of Culture said of the upcoming festival, “The delegation is excited to be part of the overall event … everyone is most looking forward to the Country Night performance—a moment where we all come together on one stage to showcase the full range of our Caymanian talent.”
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