Directed by Rhodessa Jones and Idris Ackamoor "Women of Calypso" will take place at the African American Art & Culture Complex's Hall of Culture during Women's Month in March 2011. "Women of Calypso" features three of the top female calypso singers in Trinidad, W.I., Singing Saundra, Shereen Caesar, and Kizzie Ruiz. Through their songs they sing about contemporary life in Trinidad. All three have won hosts of awards and regularly place in the finals of Calypso competitions during Carnival and year round. Calypso is a music of the people, and although the more popularly known Calypso singers have been male such as The Mighty Sparrow, Shadow, and Lord Kitchener, "Women of Calypso" showcases the best of female Calypso singers from Trinidad who are now more than ever competing with and rivaling their male counterparts. All Homage to "Calypso Rose".
Singing Sandra (Sandra Des Vignes Mellington) started her career as a performing artist with the Prime Minister's Best Village Competition. She entered the calypso arena in the early1980's. She has become one of the foremost calypso artists of our time, and was crowned Calypso Queen of the World in St. Marten as well as Calypso Queen of Trinidad and Tobago.
Kizzie Ruiz and Shereen Caesar are the younger members of the trio and have equally gained renown in the carnival tents and competitions of Trinidad. They are the rising and emerging stars of the genre.
"Women of Calypso" is a National Performance Network Performing America's Project (NPN) and has been under development for over three years. One of NPN's goals is to provide an opportunity for performing and visual artists to tour America, Latin America, and the Caribbean by providing partial touring support for it's partner members. Cultural Odyssey is an NPN partner and the only African American performing company in San Francisco to regularly present national and international artists for Bay Area audiences as well as in other locations in America like the National Black Theater Festival in Winston Salem, NC.
The performance presented by Cultural Odyssey will be part of a four-city tour of the production.
