Susilla Soumayree

Kamille demonstrates her dedication to artist development and cultural preservation through traditional masquerade.Through live performance and installation art, she uses Soumayree to bridge historical cultural elements with contemporary narratives. By portraying the Soumayree, one of the few East Indian traditional masquerade characters, Kamille reintroduces this heritage figure in the National Carnival Commission (NCC) competition, marking the first Soumayree entry in over a decade. 

Her 2023 NCC performance, “Susilla Soumayree ” is inspired by the Hindu goddess Maa Siddhidatri—an embodiment of Shiva and Parvati and the unity of masculine and feminine energies. The performance explored themes of duality and inner balance. Soumayree was depicted as half in traditional wear and half in corporate attire, representing the complexities faced by modern women as they negotiate personal and professional roles.

Kamille’s NCC 2024 entry shifted focus to ecological themes, celebrating two types of pollinators—bats and hummingbirds—as symbols of day and night. This work continued her exploration of duality, underscoring the essential, contrasting roles within ecosystems while honouring Trinidad and Tobago’s natural heritage.

Through these evolving performances in NCC, Kamille has established Soumayree as a vehicle for addressing both timeless and timely issues