Carib Scope

分类： entertainment

  • Cuba honors Alicia Alonso on Ibero-American Dance Day

    Cuba honors Alicia Alonso on Ibero-American Dance Day

    The National Ballet of Cuba prepares to honor the enduring legacy of prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso through a special performance of the classic ballet “Don Quixote” this Sunday. Principal dancers Anette Delgado and Dani Hernández will assume the leading roles in this commemorative production that celebrates Alonso’s monumental contributions to Cuban cultural heritage.

    Alonso’s extraordinary journey in dance encompassed multiple dimensions: initial rigorous training that established her as a respected ballerina, subsequent development of a distinctive artistic style, and ultimately the permanent integration of ballet into Cuba’s cultural identity. Her vision transformed ballet from an elite art form into an essential component of Cuban cultural expression.

    Seventy-seven years ago, Alonso collaborated with her brothers Fernando Alonso, an extraordinary teacher, and Alberto Alonso, a renowned choreographer, to establish Cuba’s first professional ballet company. This pioneering achievement occurred during an era when ballet remained largely unfamiliar and underappreciated throughout Latin American societies.

    Throughout her career, Alonso demonstrated remarkable resilience by overcoming substantial social, political, and health-related challenges. Her determination and courage enabled her to elevate both her personal artistic stature and the broader recognition of ballet as a legitimate art form in Cuba.

    Following the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Alonso actively supported cultural democratization initiatives that brought ballet beyond traditional theater settings. She championed the accessibility of ballet performances in unconventional venues including factories, agricultural fields, forests, valleys, and public streets, effectively breaking down bourgeois prejudices and making high art available to ordinary citizens.

  • Los Parranderos de UWI, 45 years going strong

    Los Parranderos de UWI, 45 years going strong

    The University of the West Indies (UWI) witnessed a remarkable cultural celebration as Los Parranderos de UWI marked its 45th anniversary with a special concert at the Learning Resource Centre in St. Augustine on November 30. The event brought together past members, former leaders, and distinguished guests from the parang community to honor the group’s enduring legacy in Trinidad and Tobago’s musical landscape.

    Founded in 1980 by members of UWI’s Spanish Society, the ensemble has evolved from a student initiative into a nationally recognized parang institution. Their journey into competitive parang began in 1993 through the National Parang Association of TT (NPATT), where they achieved an extraordinary record of seven consecutive second-place finishes (1999-2005) before clinching the national championship title in 2006.

    The anniversary concert featured nostalgic recollections from founding member Farzan Ali and former leaders Sharon Beharry (1985-86), Keith Dalip (1987-90), and Miguel Browne (1999-2024). They shared anecdotes about the group’s adventures traveling to the Paramin festival, the challenges of convoy transportation, and their commitment to ensuring all members returned safely after late-night performances.

    Musical highlights included performances of the group’s greatest hits from their four albums: ‘Mi Parranda’ (2003), ‘Vamos A Celebrar’ (2005), ‘Parranda Ta Nos’ (2010), and ‘Nuestra Canción’ (2025). The setlist blended original compositions like ‘Canta’ and ‘Recordemos’ with tributes to parang legends Gloria Alcazar, Henry Periera, and the Lara Brothers.

    The ceremony included the induction of five members into the group’s honor roll: Keisha Mark, Camivel Cova, Jerry Ramdass, Brandon Akai, and Khadine Bovell. Special recognition awards were presented to Tony Narine for 29 years of sound system support and retired principal’s assistant Elizabeth McComie for her instrumental role in securing the group’s presence at major campus events. Longest-serving members Miguel Browne (41 years) and Desdra Bascombe (40 years) received distinctive honors for their enduring dedication.

  • Ken Renard – Trinidad and Tobago’s most successful actor

    Ken Renard – Trinidad and Tobago’s most successful actor

    Despite achieving near-total obscurity in his native Trinidad and Tobago, Kenneth Renwick (1907-1993), professionally known as Ken Renard, forged one of the most remarkable and prolonged acting careers among Caribbean-born performers. His journey from tire retreading laborer in Harlem to celebrated Broadway and Hollywood actor represents an extraordinary narrative of artistic perseverance amid racial barriers.

    Renard’s immigration records confirm his 1923 arrival in the United States from Port of Spain, where he initially worked in industrial jobs before discovering theater. His breakthrough came during the twilight of the Harlem Renaissance, performing with the Lafayette Theatre’s productions of ‘Sailor Beware’ and ‘The Front Page’ in 1935. This led to his involvement with the historically significant Federal Theatre Project, where he performed under Orson Welles’ direction in the legendary ‘Voodoo Macbeth’ (1936) and was cast as Emperor Haile Selassie in the controversially canceled ‘Ethiopia’ production.

    His career trajectory defied racial conventions of the era, transitioning from Harlem stages to Broadway productions throughout the 1940s-50s, including Jean-Paul Sartre’s ‘The Reluctant Prostitute.’ Renard simultaneously established himself in radio dramas for major networks like CBS and NBC before breaking into cinema with black-cast musicals like ‘Murder with Music’ (1948).

    Renard’s cinematic significance culminated in his dignified portrayal of Haitian revolutionary leader Toussaint Louverture in ‘Lydia Bailey’ (1952), marking his transition to substantial Hollywood roles. Throughout the 1960s-80s, he appeared alongside icons including Sidney Poitier (as his father in ‘Something of Value’), Jane Fonda, and Marlon Brando while accumulating over twenty film credits and dozens of television appearances. His versatility shone through westerns (‘Bonanza’, ‘The Virginian’), legal dramas (‘Perry Mason’), espionage thrillers (‘Mission: Impossible’), and science fiction (‘The Outer Limits’).

    Despite confronting limited opportunities for Black actors—noted in his 1960 interview with The New Pittsburgh Courier—Renard mastered diverse ethnic roles including Latin, Native American, and African characters. His legacy remains preserved at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles, housing photographs, theater programs, and personal memorabilia from his groundbreaking six-decade career. The single word engraved on his Los Angeles gravesite—’ACTOR’—encapsulates the identity he forged through relentless artistic dedication.

  • ‘Painting’ with coloured paper – Allisha Ali’s rising profile as Caribbean artist in Canada

    ‘Painting’ with coloured paper – Allisha Ali’s rising profile as Caribbean artist in Canada

    In an extraordinary fusion of technology and tradition, Toronto-based software engineering manager Allisha Ali has emerged as an unexpected force in the art world through her innovative paper-quilling techniques. Born in Trinidad and migrating to Canada at age ten, Ali has developed a distinctive artistic practice that transforms colored paper strips into vibrant visual narratives of Caribbean heritage and personal memory.

    Without formal art training, Ali discovered paper artistry as therapeutic expression during intervals between managing tech teams and raising her two daughters. Her unconventional medium involves meticulously layering and blending paper strips to create textured compositions that mimic brushstrokes—all without using any paint. “Just glue and paper,” Ali explains. “I have stacks of different colors and I blend them. It’s very tactile, very therapeutic.”

    Her engineering background profoundly influences her creative process. She describes her approach as “modular,” constructing artworks from individual components much like software systems are designed. This methodological crossover demonstrates how her technical expertise informs her artistic vision.

    At the heart of Ali’s work lies her Trinidadian roots and family history. Her breakthrough piece, “Oropouche,” depicts cocoa pods connected to her father’s lineage and the agricultural legacy of northeastern Trinidad. The artwork emerged from a deeply personal journey—returning to Trinidad seven years after her father’s death. “There was a lot of emotion in that trip—grief, nostalgia, joy,” she recalls. “I always think of Trinidad as paradise, but it’s layered.”

    Another significant work, “Bazodee,” captures the overwhelming experience of returning to bury her father, transitioning visually from anxiety to intense emotional release. Her portfolio has expanded to include socially conscious works like “The Water Protector,” honoring Indigenous water activists in Canada, and “Soul Rebel,” a portrait of Bob Marley that pays homage to the music that filled her childhood home.

    Despite recent recognition—including her first sale after someone discovered her work on Instagram and her inaugural exhibition in the Greater Toronto Area—Ali maintains her full-time tech career. She now aims to participate in juried exhibitions and eventually stage a solo show, all while continuing to develop more complex, message-driven works that create space for Caribbean stories in Canadian cultural spaces.

  • Carl Meeks rides timeless beats with ‘Classeeks’

    Carl Meeks rides timeless beats with ‘Classeeks’

    Veteran dancehall artist Carl Meeks has unveiled his latest musical project, “Classeeks,” marking his second album release for 2025. The collection debuted on December 12th under the RubADub MKRT label, with production handled by French music producer Cedrik “Kiko” Ynesta.

    True to its evocative title, the album serves as a deliberate homage to dancehall’s foundational years. Meeks and Ynesta have carefully selected thirteen tracks built upon iconic riddims that have shaped the genre across four decades. These include legendary rhythmic patterns such as Throw Me Corn, Movie Star, and Mr Bassie—each reimagined for contemporary audiences while preserving their original character.

    The conceptual framework originated from Ynesta, who proposed revisiting these timeless musical foundations that first captivated Meeks during his regular attendance at dancehall events in 1970s and 1980s Kingston. The North Carolina-based artist acknowledged the emotional resonance of these productions, stating: “These riddims are so special because that’s where dancehall music started, so it gives me that vibe.

    Among the standout tracks is “What’s Going On,” a collaborative piece with deejay Screechy Dan currently gaining traction within music circles. The album also features previously released singles including “No Regrets,” “Ram Dance Master” featuring Johnny P, and “Walking Dead” with Derrick Parker.

    Meeks first rose to prominence in the late 1980s through hits like “Weh Dem Fah” and “Youthman,” both produced by Hugh “Redman” James during the peak era of Redman International’s influence. This new release follows Meeks’ “Legendary” album from eight months prior, produced by Big Bout Ya Records.

    Ynesta’s production strategy deliberately bridges generational divides, seeking to introduce classic sounds to newer audiences while allowing longtime fans to rediscover their musical heritage through fresh compositions. Meeks explained the curator’s vision: “He wanted to capture the younger audience and let the older ones indulge in the new songs on these riddims. I select the artistes knowing that they are vintage singers just like the riddims and also artistes I admired.”

  • 2025 Festive Firs

    2025 Festive Firs

    MIAMI – Bal Harbour Shops has elevated its seasonal celebrations through an exclusive collaboration with the iconic Italian luxury brand Ferragamo. The upscale Miami shopping destination now features a spectacular holiday tree installation in its Center Courtyard, reimagined through Ferragamo’s distinctive design lens.

    The innovative display transforms the traditional holiday tree into a sophisticated art installation where signature Ferragamo silk scarves float as balloon ornaments. This creative approach turns the tree into a vibrant canvas that showcases exceptional color harmony, artisanal craftsmanship, and whimsical elegance. Located at 9700 Collins Avenue in Bal Harbour, Florida, the Ferragamo Boutique has orchestrated this immersive experience that seamlessly blends high fashion with holiday tradition.

    The installation represents a growing trend among luxury retailers to create immersive, Instagram-worthy holiday experiences that transcend conventional shopping. By integrating their signature textiles into the holiday display, Ferragamo has demonstrated how luxury fashion houses can creatively engage with customers during the festive season. This collaboration follows similar high-profile holiday installations at other premium locations including L’Ermitage Beverly Hills with Vera Wang and New York’s Bergdorf Goodman, though each maintains its unique artistic interpretation of seasonal celebrations.

    This artistic holiday presentation offers visitors an opportunity to experience the intersection of fashion, art, and seasonal tradition, providing a sophisticated alternative to conventional holiday decorations while maintaining the joyful spirit of the season.

  • KCCC delivers tidings of joy!

    KCCC delivers tidings of joy!

    The festive season commenced in spectacular fashion at St. Augustine’s Chapel on Kingston College’s North Street Campus last Sunday, as the renowned Kingston College Chapel Choir (KCCC) delivered a breathtaking Christmas concert that perfectly captured the spirit of ‘Tidings of Comfort & Joy’.

    Under the masterful direction of Choirmaster Audley Davidson, the 35-strong choir, adorned in purple vests and bow ties, opened the 17-piece program with a powerful rendition of Franz Joseph Haydn’s storied ‘Te Deum in C.’ This canticle of praise, composed around 1799, featured two ebullient outer sections contrasting with a serene middle, leaving the audience in awe and responding with thunderous, continuous applause upon its 15-minute conclusion.

    The musical feast seamlessly blended classical masterpieces with modern compositions and works by local Jamaican talents. The program featured Clyde Hoyte’s ‘O’er our Blue Mountain,’ delivered by soloist Matthew Hylton, Andrew Marshall’s ‘Fanfare’ introduction to ‘Hark The Herald Angels Sing,’ Noel Dexter’s ‘Sing de Chorus,’ and Richard Beckford’s ‘Joy,’ a piece dedicated to the KCCC this past September.

    Highlights included an exquisitely controlled performance of John Rutter’s ‘Angel Carol,’ where the choir’s underparts created beautiful harmonic support. The recently restored chapel pipe organ, played by Livingston Burnett, made a triumphant debut with ‘Fanfare for Christmas,’ filling the sacred space with familiar carols that had attendees tapping their feet. The organ featured again in the lullaby-esque ‘Infant Holy, Infant Lowly,’ with the gentlemen of the choir showing distinct attention to conductor Davidson.

    The evening also served a charitable purpose. Emcee Karnette Batchelor Evering engaged the audience, rallying support for relief efforts for St. Hilda’s Diocesan High School in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. She led the entire audience in a fun-loving singalong of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ and ‘Hark The Herald Angels Sing.’

    The concert culminated with the stirring ‘The Sounds of His Love’ by Don Marsh, providing a fitting climax to an evening that celebrated the school’s centenary. The performance was not merely a concert but a profound community event, attended by dignitaries including former Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall and the Lord Bishop of Jamaica, offering a moment of shared joy and comfort through the universal language of glorious music.

  • Cuban ballet company opens historic season of Don Quixote

    Cuban ballet company opens historic season of Don Quixote

    Havana’s cultural scene is set to dazzle ballet enthusiasts as the prestigious Teatro Nacional de Cuba unveils its spectacular holiday programming in the iconic Avellaneda Hall. From December 19 through January 1, 2026, the institution designated as a Cultural Heritage of the Nation will present an extraordinary series of performances blending artistic excellence with social responsibility.

    The season commences with a humanitarian gesture as proceeds from the December 19-20 performances will be directed toward supporting victims of Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba. This philanthropic initiative was confirmed by Viengsay Valdes, General Director of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba (BNC), in statements to Prensa Latina.

    Artistic excellence takes center stage with an impressive roster of talent. The season opens on December 19 featuring acclaimed principal dancers Anette Delgado and Dani Hernández, who will reprise their captivating performances on December 21. Subsequent dates will showcase rising stars and established virtuosos: Laura Kamila and Yankiel Vázquez (December 20 and 29), Nadila Estrada and Alejandro Alderete (December 26), and Gabriela Druyet and Anyelo Montero (December 27 and January 1).

    Notably, several dancers including Kamila, Estrada, and Alderete will make their debut in leading roles from the demanding classic ‘Don Quixote’—a ballet so significant that fragments regularly feature in international competitions worldwide.

    The programming reaches its zenith with two exceptional international collaborations on December 28 and 30. Argentine virtuoso Marianela Núñez, principal dancer with London’s Royal Ballet, will share the stage with Cuban sensation Patricio Reve, currently a guest artist with the British company and principal dancer at Australia’s Queensland Ballet. This cross-continental partnership promises to deliver unforgettable performances that highlight the global reach of Cuban ballet.

  • Shuga shares new single Montego Bay

    Shuga shares new single Montego Bay

    Jamaican vocalist Shuga delivers a soulful reinterpretation of Bobby Bloom’s 1970 hit “Montego Bay” through VP Records, transforming the classic tune into a contemporary reggae masterpiece. Produced by the acclaimed Donovan Germain, this reimagined version features exquisite saxophone artistry by Dean Fraser, creating a fresh auditory experience while honoring the song’s legacy.

    The release, initially scheduled for November 7th, faced postponement due to Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on the region. The single now emerges on November 28th as Montego Bay gradually restores normalcy, making the song’s message of hometown pride particularly resonant.

    This musical project holds deep personal significance for Shuga, who was born and raised in Montego Bay. Her interpretation serves as both a homecoming celebration and artistic homage to the coastal city that shaped her musical journey. The recording reflects her formative years performing along Jamaica’s north coast hotel circuit, connecting her current artistic evolution with her professional origins.

    “Montego Bay” stands as the lead single from her anticipated album “Girl From Montego Bay,” slated for release in late spring 2026. The track follows her previous successful singles “What If” and “Love Doctor,” the latter having earned recognition on Billboard charts.

    A companion music video, produced in collaboration with the Jamaica Tourist Board and featuring cameos from Montego Bay musicians, was filmed during late summer but will now debut in late January. The visual production showcases iconic locations throughout the city, further emphasizing the deep connection between artist and hometown.

    Shuga’s current year has included notable collaborations with reggae and dancehall icons including Sean Paul, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, Beenie Man, and Christopher Martin, plus a memorable appearance at the Freddie McGregor & Friends concert.

  • Frisco Kid co-headlines Saturday Night Live

    Frisco Kid co-headlines Saturday Night Live

    While the fashion trends of the 1990s—stonewash jeans and high-top hairstyles—have faded into history, the vibrant dancehall music from that decade continues to resonate with fans. Artist Frisco Kid, a seminal figure from that era, remains a passionate performer of his classic hits, including ‘Little And Cute,’ ‘Bashment Time,’ ‘Big Speech,’ and ‘Rubbers.’

    Reflecting on the 1990s, Frisco Kid describes it as a period defined by ‘joy, love, an’ happiness.’ He was an integral part of producer Dave Kelly’s influential Mad House Records, alongside renowned acts like Wayne Wonder, (Baby) Cham, Bounty Killer, and Mr Easy. According to Frisco Kid, the music created then was driven by genuine emotion and artistic integrity rather than financial motives. ‘Back inna dem time deh, everything come from di heart, it a come wid love. It wasn’t from what yuh can gain or what yuh can achieve [financially],’ he recalled.

    The veteran deejay is set to co-headline the ‘Saturday Night Live’ event at Sky Ultra Lounge in St Andrew on December 27. He will share the stage with Louie Culture, another celebrated artist who dominated the charts during the 1990s. This event marks the second installment of a monthly concert series organized by Global Grove Saturday Night Live, following a successful November showcase featuring reggae icon Marcia Griffiths.

    Hailing from West Kingston, Frisco Kid built his reputation through performances on sound systems in Portmore, St Catherine. His career skyrocketed thirty years ago with a string of hit singles, many produced by Dave Kelly. Now in his mid-50s, Frisco Kid attributes his enduring relevance to the timeless quality of his music. ‘Wi always busy, ‘cause di chune dem weh wi do nuh have nuh limit pon dem. Our song dem, all di next hundred years people still waan hear wi sing dem an’ perform dem,’ he stated.

    Despite his deep connection to his classic repertoire, Frisco Kid emphasizes the importance of creating new music. His latest single, ‘King of The Street,’ is part of an ambitious double EP project that will feature both reggae and dancehall tracks, scheduled for release in 2026.