1688 Collective’s Handel’s C’bean Messiah brings Dancin’ Africa

ONE local dancing director believes that productions like 1688 Collective’s Handel’s Caribbean Messiah offers an opportunity to explore different areas and give dancers an opportunity to take an existing work and make it into their own.

Director of Dancin’ Africa, Jennifer Sealy, made these comments during the launch of Handel’s Caribbean Messiah in the Kensington Oval conference room recently.

The organisation, 1688 Collective, made the decision to include dancers into the production in an effort to enhance the show. This year, the show will also feature a full lighting design. Director of 1688 Collective, Dr. Stefan Walcott, noted that Handel’s Caribbean Messiah is one of the few English-speaking productions that have choreography, large-scale ensemble, and music which includes spouge and music from Haiti and Trinidad.

“(Handel’s Caribbean Messiah) seeks to encompass all cultural influences within them,” said Dr. Walcott.

The three-day event, starting December 20 through to December 22, will be held at the Frank Collymore Hall starting at 8 p.m.

Handel’s Caribbean Messiah going overseas

The director of 1688 Collective said the change of venue was necessary to facilitate the expansion of the production as there are plans to take Handel’s Caribbean Messiah overseas. Dr. Walcott indicated that the production will be held in Trinidad in 2020, which will have a mixed cast of Barbadian and Trinidadian artists or a Trinidadian cast. He said the show will also be held later in 2021-2025 internationally.

The director of the musical production also revealed that his organisation is in discussions with the organisers of Internationale Händel-Festspiele in Germany to carry some of the cast members there to perform in 2021. There are also plans to have tours in other Caribbean islands in 2020.

“…We are looking regionally and extra-regionally. There is a very good chance we will not be performing in the local space for the next 2-5 years,” he said.

According to Dr. Walcott, the Handel’s Caribbean Messiah is a contemporary and modern experience of an original Handel vocal and orchestral work in honour of Jesus Christ and it was written three centuries ago. He added that it was first performed at Easter, but has become a staple performance during the Christmas season throughout the Western world. The Handel’s Caribbean Messiah is in its third year of production. Tickets for the event are available through TicketPal Caribbean.com and its box offices.