The Valley Anguilla, 27 August 2019 – The Anguilla delegation (total of 59 members) was busy at CARIFESTA XIV in Trinidad. The biennial event and the premier arts and culture festival in the Caribbean region was held from 16th – 25th August 2019 in Trinidad and Tobago under the theme “Connect. Share. Invest.”
The delegation put on a stellar performance at the country night on the 19th August 2019 at Queens Park Savannah (QPS) with a production entitled “Sweet Salt” directed by Collette Jones Chin and choreographed by Nichola MacDonald. The performers included From Within Dance Elite Company, STAGES Anguilla, Roots Binghi, Fiona Wilkinson, Rebecca “Queen B” Webster and Roxanne “Roxxy” Webster. The Anguilla National Culinary Team were also included in this production by providing the audience with scrumptious Anguillian treats!
Apart from the country night performance, Anguilla was represented on many different stages at CARIFESTA:
Roxxy gave riveting performances wearing her crowns well at QPS, Big Black Box (BBBox) and the Southern Academy of Performing Arts(SAPA) with both Calypso and Soca performances.
Queen B commanded and captivated the attention of her audiences at the QPS and SAPA performing her calypso renditions.
Roots Binghi was a favourite at every performance with their original Binghi uye pieces at QPS, SAPA, BBBox and the Community Festival in Mayaro.
Vanessa Croft Thompson delivered mesmerizing and expressive spoken word performances at BBBox, SAPA and the Lit Fest at the Streets of the Caribbean!
Louise Brooks had her art work entitled “A glimpse of Anguilla” consisting of vibrant colours to portray our country displayed in the CARICOM Art Gallery.
The Anguilla National Culinary Team provided delicious food and drinks to CARIFESTA enthusiasts, with food being sold out in less than two hours every day!
From Within Dance Elite Company showed out! The dancers were exemplary in their craft and were represented well at “We DancINg Trinbago” at SAPA, “We Can Dance Wednesday” at the Youth Village, “Collage” at SAPA and at the Grand Market at QPS!
Finally, STAGES Anguilla put on an alluring and heart touching production of “Virtue” on the 18th August at the Central Bank Auditorium. The production ended in Charisma Jones Chin soulfully singing Naughty Boy’s “Running” whilst members of STAGES Anguilla danced.
The contingent was headed by the Director of Youth and Culture, Ms. Avon Carty with support from the employees of the Culture and Arts Division.
The Department of Youth and Culture and the Government of Anguilla are certainly proud of our delegation and the calibre of talent that we took to CARIFESTA XIV!
The Anguilla delegation once again thanks Anguilla Social Security Board and Anguilla Tourist Board for their sponsorship and support towards culture and the arts in Anguilla.
The above, are all registered and accredited organisations with the Department of Youth and Culture. Members of culture and arts organisations, artistes and cultural practitioners on Anguilla, who have not yet been registered or accredited by the Department are encouraged to kindly contact Nordisia Lake, Programme Officer (Culture) at nordisia.lake@gov.ai or call on 498 3792.
– Press Release