Beryl McBurnie was born on November 2, 1915, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. She was the youngest of six children in her family. McBurnie grew up in a household that valued music, dance, and culture, and she was exposed to the traditional dances and music of Trinidad from a young age.
McBurnie began dancing at the age of six, and she showed a natural talent for the art form. She continued to study dance throughout her childhood and adolescence, and she eventually became interested in pursuing a career as a professional dancer.
In the late 1930s, McBurnie traveled to London to study ballet. She trained under the renowned ballet teacher Marie Rambert and also studied modern dance with Martha Graham. She returned to Trinidad in the early 1940s and opened her own dance school, where she taught ballet and modern dance.
McBurnie’s early life and training gave her a unique perspective on dance and culture, and she saw the need to develop a unique style of dance that blended classical ballet with the rhythms and movements of the Caribbean.
In 1947, McBurnie founded the West Indian Ballet Company, which was one of the first ballet companies in the Caribbean. The company’s repertoire was focused on Caribbean themes, and it combined elements of classical ballet with traditional Caribbean folk dances. McBurnie was the company’s primary choreographer and artistic director, and she helped to establish a tradition of Caribbean dance and culture that continues to this day.
In addition to her work with the West Indian Ballet Company, McBurnie was also a cultural activist who sought to promote Caribbean arts and traditions. She founded the Little Carib Theatre in Port of Spain, which became a hub for Caribbean dance, music, and theater. She also organised cultural festivals and events that celebrated the diverse cultural heritage of the Caribbean.
The company’s repertoire was focused on Caribbean themes, and its performances were a blend of classical ballet and Caribbean folk dances. Some of the company’s most famous productions included “Tropical Revue,” “Rum and Coca-Cola,” and “La Belle Rosette.” The company also toured internationally and performed in Europe, the United States, and other parts of the world.
They first toured the UK in 1954, and their performances were well-received by audiences and critics alike. The company’s blend of classical ballet and Caribbean folk dance was seen as fresh and innovative, and it helped to introduce British audiences to the rich cultural traditions of the Caribbean.
One of the most notable performances of the West Indian Ballet Company in the UK was at the Royal Opera House in London in 1956. The company performed a new ballet called “Creole Giselle,” which was a reimagining of the classic ballet “Giselle” set in the Caribbean. The production was choreographed by Beryl McBurnie and featured a score by Trinidadian composer André Tanker. It was praised by critics for its innovative use of Caribbean music and dance, and it helped to establish the West Indian Ballet Company as a major cultural institution.
The company continued to tour the UK throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and they performed at venues such as Sadler’s Wells, the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, and the Royal Festival Hall. They also collaborated with other British dance companies, including the Royal Ballet, and helped to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of Caribbean dance and culture in the UK.
McBurnie worked with a number of dancers, choreographers, musicians, and other artists during her career, both in Trinidad and Tobago and internationally including:
André Tanker: André Tanker was a Trinidadian composer and musician who worked closely with McBurnie on a number of productions. He composed the music for McBurnie’s “Creole Giselle” ballet, which was performed by the West Indian Ballet Company in the UK in 1956.
Lavinia Williams: Lavinia Williams was a Trinidadian dancer who was a member of the West Indian Ballet Company in the 1950s. She worked closely with McBurnie and was a featured performer in many of the company’s productions.
Chandra Sukram: Chandra Sukram was a Trinidadian dancer who trained under McBurnie at the Little Carib Theatre. She went on to become a prominent dancer and choreographer in her own right, and she was a mentor to many young dancers in Trinidad and Tobago.
Pearl Primus: Pearl Primus was an American dancer and choreographer who collaborated with McBurnie on a production called “Tropical Revue” in the 1950s. The production was a fusion of African and Caribbean dance styles and was well-received by audiences in Trinidad and the US.
Geoffrey Holder: Geoffrey Holder was a Trinidadian dancer, choreographer, and actor who worked with McBurnie on several productions in the 1950s and 1960s. He later became an internationally renowned performer and was the first black man to win a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical.
Beryl McBurnie passed away on May 30, 2000, at the age of 85. Her death was a great loss to the Caribbean dance and cultural community, as she had been a pioneer in promoting and developing the region’s unique dance and cultural traditions.
McBurnie’s legacy continues to be celebrated today. She is remembered as a cultural icon who played a vital role in establishing the Caribbean’s rich artistic heritage. Her contributions to dance and culture were recognized with numerous awards and honors during her lifetime, including Trinidad and Tobago’s highest honour, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
McBurnie’s impact on Caribbean dance and culture is also evident in the work of contemporary Caribbean artists and dance companies. Her pioneering efforts to blend classical ballet with Caribbean folk dance have influenced generations of dancers and choreographers, and her commitment to promoting Caribbean arts and traditions continues to inspire artists throughout the region.
The Little Carib Theatre, which McBurnie founded in 1948, remains a vibrant hub for Caribbean dance, music, and theater. The West Indian Ballet Company, which she founded in 1947, inspired generations of dancers and helped to establish a tradition of Caribbean dance that continues to thrive today.