BAVINA SOOKDEO
AT just 19 years old, Anya-Lee Bidaisee has established herself as a promising young performer. A versatile talent, she transitioned from a competitive athletic career to singing and performing.
Describing her journey as “transformative and deeply fulfilling,” Bidaisee is preparing to perform in the annual Believe concerts: A Jukebox Christmas, on December 19-20, and Believe: Carol of the Drum on December 21-22 at Queen’s Hall.
Bidaisee has not always been a performer, in fact the Port of Spain resident spent many years as an athlete. “For about 12 years, I spent nearly every day on a pool deck – often twice a day – as a competitive swimmer and water polo player,” she said. “At the time, I believed sports were my true calling.”
For Bidaisee, singing was initially just a hobby. At Bishop Anstey Junior School, she joined the choir, where participating in various extracurricular activities was encouraged as part of a holistic education.
In 2017, her mother suggested she join the Love Movement choir to broaden her interests beyond swimming, make new friends, and find a creative outlet amidst academic demands. Through her involvement with the Love Movement, she participated in several productions and discovered a genuine enjoyment for being on stage. However, at that time, sports remained the dominant focus of her life.
[caption id="attachment_1125282" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Anya Bidaisee as she portrays Mary alongside Farouk Junior. -[/caption]
Then came the covid19 pandemic when Bidaisee was forced to step away from swimming due to lockdowns, a turning point that reshaped her life.
“It was a difficult adjustment, as swimming had been such an integral part of my daily routine” she related. “As time passed, I began to realise that the sport I had dedicated so many years to no longer aligned with the person I was becoming. When the pool eventually reopened, I made the decision not to return, choosing instead to hang up my swimsuits and goggles for good. It was a bittersweet moment, but I knew it was time to let go and embrace a new chapter in my life.”
By the time schools fully reopened, Bidaisee was entering lower six. She turned her focus to the performing arts, joining the St Joseph's Convent Choir. “I resolved to make the most of my last two years of secondary school by getting involved in as many activities as possible” she said.
“I participated in inter-house parang competitions and, on a whim, joined the school choir.” It was here that choirmaster John Thomas identified her vocal potential, encouraging her to pursue formal voice training and providing opportunities to perform. This greatly contributed to my growth as a performer and solidified my love for singing.”
[caption id="attachment_1125281" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Portraying Tracy Turnblad (from the movie ‘Hairspray’) in Showtime: A Musical Theatre Review. -[/caption]
Her decision to embrace music proved serendipitous. Bidaisee became an integral part of the choir which excelled in the 2024 TT Music
