It was my first time visiting Spice Basket and I personally believe it is a long-awaited, but much needed educational and cultural experience for locals and tourist visiting the island. Spice Basket presents traditional Grenadian lifestyle complete with a theatre, restaurant, museum and gift shop through an assembly of authentically designed colourful wooden huts situated in such a way that it mimics a village environment.
Coming to life every Wednesday and Sunday, A Slice of Spice is a vibrant dance production that enlightens its audience about the myths, legends and spirit tales told through many generations in Grenada. During the show I would look over at my mother’s reminiscent gaze when the dancers swept away the she-devil La Diablesse with their wide white skirts enacting the tale of a beautiful woman who lures unsuspecting men deep into the woods only to reveal her skeletal face and cloven hooves. She laughed as she remembered the myth my great-grandmother used to tell her and lit up when the skillful dancers performed a traditional stick dance she enjoyed watching when she was growing up.
There were numerous costume changes and energetic routines so it worked out really well that dinner was served before the show. The mango crumble with coconut ice-cream washed down with tropical fruit juice was heavenly and the service exceeded it’s standards. Our waitress was just as entertaining as the show and truly personified the nature of Grenadian people.
The only two male dancers in the cast stood their ground amidst the collective of animated female dancers. Passionate dancer Shanique Strachan exaggerated her moves with so much vivacity that I felt every twist, turn and hip rotate, while dancer Aniona Hamid delighted the audience with her bright beautiful smile and alluring charm.
Photographed by Vin Su
Dancing as an extra curricular activity for seven years and fitting the demanding rehearsal schedule around her everyday life, Aniona described performing weekly at Spice Basket as an escape from everything else. I was most impressed by the energy all the performers put into the dance sequences and it was evident that they live by the words of Choreographer and Artistic Director of Conception Dance Theatre Cecilia Griffith, who advises them to leave all their troubles behind and just dance!
Find out more about Spice Basket at www.spicebasketgrenada.com