Estimates say that close to one million cruise visitors will visit Belize over the next year. And while most will go the Cayes and to the Maya Temples hundreds stay in the city and most have nothing to do except walk around in a sort of stunned bewilderment. But like a magician saying "bewilderment begone!...entertainment come een!", the Equinox Dance Troupe has put together quite a show to entertain tourists. Keith Swift got a preview today at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts.
Keith SwiftReporting,
They call themselves the equinox dance troupe and these 18 dancers and 6 musicians along with full light and sound crews have put together a show. It is a show which could be the next big thing in cruise tourism.
Greg Vernon, Equinox Dance Troupe Director
“It’s a performance. You would call it a musical because it has music, it has drama, it has dance, it has comedy and tragedy. So you would come in and you would see Belizean culture in its heyday and you would also be able to see mythical characters come to life on stage and you would also be able to see cultural people and cultural events and cultural buildings. One thing I am proud of is the thatch house which represents most of the population of Belize, the thatch pimento house. So we are very much happy with this production.”
Starting in September the show will be performed twice daily at the bliss center. And while it will targeted at cruise tourists, producer Greg Vernon says it also be open to locals.
Greg Vernon,
“I’ve always compared it as and will be selling it as if we are having a production here at the Bliss and if you come in from Orange Walk and maybe you want to see a day show. You know our tradition is doing shows in the evening time so of course it is targeted for the cruise lines but we are encouraging Belizeans to come into the Bliss during the day whenever you have a family event or you’re downtown shopping this is a relaxation to you to drop in here and to see a production.”
There is of course the pressure factor since while it might look fun all 18 dancers and all 6 musicians are fully paid. It is a job but the dancers say more than a paycheck they are in it for the love of the dance.
Gillian Fuller, Dancer
“I feel great to be in it because I love dancing.”
Eleanor Gillet, Dancer
“It’s a mythical show talking about all these characters and you have different scenes of culture which is our Belizean setting.”
Ernestine Carballo,
“Its come a long way and Belizeans can expect nothing but the best because it is fresh to Belize right but we all are doing our utmost best.”
KS: Why should people come to the show?
Ernestine Carballo,
“Because it is something new and it is something real even though it is mythical.”
There will two shows daily and a price has yet to be set. The show debuts on September 3rd.