Gemma Handy (Turks and Caicos Weekly News) reviews the artistic trajectory of Turks and Caicos-born singer and dancer Ryesha Higgs.
If you happened to be anywhere near Provo Primary’s Christmas play of 2004 you may well remember the little girl with the vigorous voice who belted out a rendition of the Supremes’ rousing hit Baby Love. You wouldn’t have been the only one to notice the nascent talent of Ryesha Higgs, already setting the stage alight, a la Diana Ross, at just seven years old.
Almost two decades later, that talent has catapulted her from the somnolent surrounds of her native Turks and Caicos to the luminous lights of London’s West End. And most recently to Birmingham’s Repertory Theatre where she captivated audiences with her portrayal of another musical legend, Billie Holiday.
Rave reviews testifying to everything from her “commanding stage presence” to the authenticity she brought to the role – albeit a limited one in Sinatra the Musical – were among the final flourishes on a “whirlwind” year that’s left the vivacious 26-year-old still catching her breath.
Of course, it’s not singing and acting that most Islanders will know Ryesha for. “Everyone in the Turks and Caicos knows me predominantly as a dancer, and that’s what I’ve identified as for most of my career,” she says. “This last year has taken a leap.”
That’s putting it mildly.
Last year opened with Ryesha still part of Disney’s iconic stage musical, the Lion King, a production she’d initially joined in May 2020. Recent months had seen her progress from dance ensemble to some of the show’s most memorable characters – sassy lead hyena Shenzi, lioness Queen Sarabi, and the mesmerising cheetah.
[. . .] Her first job after leaving the Lion King was with We Will Rock You at the London Coliseum, a jukebox musical based on the songs of British rock band Queen.
“That was an honour. It’s a significant project, channelling the energy and spirit of Freddie Mercury,” Ryesha explains. “I actually had the opportunity to work very closely with [Queen’s lead guitarist and co-founder] Sir Brian May who’s a rock legend. I met him several times; he’s incredible.”
But it was when Ryesha landed the role of Lady Day in the world premiere of Sinatra the Musical that her evolution into acting appeared solidified. Getting it was no small feat; she first had to impress an intimidating panel of artistic directors and choreographers from New York City – as well as Sinatra’s daughter Tina, an actress, producer and talent agent who was present at most of the auditions.
“Billie Holiday had such a distinct voice and an incredible life story with so much depth to it. It was quite an honour to even be seen for the role, let alone get it,” she says. [. . .] It meant “taking responsibility for joining in the telling of someone else’s life – that being the main character Sinatra – but also embodying the essence of the life of someone else who was so powerful and dedicated so much to the rise of blues and jazz music in that time”, Ryesha explains. [. . .]
The end of the year saw Ryesha preparing for her biggest job yet. Rehearsals recently got underway for the London return of the Broadway musical Hadestown. The eight-time Tony-winning show opens at the Lyric Theatre in February. [. . .]
Still, being from the Caribbean while working on international stages can be a “lonely” place. Diversity may have progressed in recent years but it still has some way to go.
“I am from the Caribbean shamelessly and there aren’t many people who grew up in the Caribbean who are working in the industry,” Ryesha says. “However, I’ve found my own community of people that have very similar experiences and we all started out living on whatever island we did, feeling like certain things were not possible but getting opportunities, and now being in the same space as each other. [. . .]
Born to Wayne Higgs from Grand Turk and Rose Higgs, who has Haitian heritage, Ryesha remembers her Providenciales childhood as a “beautiful one” where her passions were respected and nurtured while being encouraged to be academic too.
Immersed in the arts since she was just five years old, she moved to the US for formal training at 16 before leaving the States for the UK. She’s currently living in the London suburb of Beckenham.
“I love London,” she enthuses. “I previously lived in New York City and there’s more of a homeliness to London. It feels like somewhere you can connect on a deeper level with people and somewhere I was immediately welcomed into academic and creative spaces with open arms. London is multicultural and has more diversity than New York which was quite shocking to me. I was really surprised by how much more synergy there is between different cultures in London.” [. . .]
[. . .] She’s a firm believer in the talent to be found among her compatriots too.
“My story is just one of many that hasn’t been told yet. There is so much talent in the Turks and Caicos Islands and it needs to be aired from all angles,” she says. “More focus is needed on empowering our young people to seek careers that align with their genuine passion, not just those that look good on paper. Art careers can be just as successful, just as impactful, and we need equal dedication to uplifting those people.”
Whatever the future holds for Ryesha, little will surpass the sheer unadulterated pleasure of performing.
For full article, see https://tcweeklynews.com/ryesha-higgs-boldly-breaking-boundaries-p13751-122.htm
[Photo above from https://www.ryeshahiggsdance.com/ryeshahiggs.]
Gemma Handy (Turks and Caicos Weekly News) reviews the artistic trajectory of Turks and Caicos-born singer and dancer Ryesha Higgs. If you happened to be anywhere near Provo Primary’s Christmas play of 2004 you may well remember the little girl with the vigorous voice who belted out a rendition of the Supremes’ rousing hit Baby
