THE 41ST SEASON of Dance of the internationally acclaimed National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica is now in its final week at the Little Theatre. Some eight new works have so far being premiered. They are created by six choreographers. These include the renowned American choreographer Lester Horton whose 'The Beloved' provided challenges for three casts of NDTC dancers, Barbadian Gene Carson whose solo "Seat of Mercy" gave Arlene Richards yet another vehicle to demonstrate her enormous performing talents, Arsenio Andrade with an athletic trio 'Epilogo', and Christopher Walker, a promising creator now completing his masters of Fine Arts at State University of New York. His 'Fragile' has won much audience acclaim throughout the season.
ESTABLISHED CHOREOGRAPHERS
Established choreographers whose new works have been unveiled this season include Clive Thompson whose 'Folk Tales' (to traditional Jamaican music skilfully arranged by Paulette Bellamy) and 'Of Sympathy and Love' a duo for Mark Phinn and Marlon Simms portraying the biblical characters of Jesus and Lazarus. There is also Arlene Richards highly charged 'Renewal of the Spirit' which marks a remarkable development in the choreographic creation of Ms. Richards while artistic director and principal choreographer Rex Nettleford's 'Birdsong' points direction in the development of the unique NDTC vocabulary.
Marjorie Whylie, Musical Director and Leader of the Singers has provided highly acclaimed arrangements of suites of songs for the NDTC Singers ranging from songs by Lord Flea, the 'Jamaican calypsonian', through a set of ringplay tunes from Ms. Whylie's collection, to a group of reggae songs. Exquisite lighting for the pieces have been provided by lighting designer Rufus McDonald with the support of veteran George Carter while Sound direction receives expert handling from Tony Holness himself a trumpeter in the NDTC orchestra.
In the words of the artistic director the season sought to "offer to audiences a repertoire of works created, performed and technically supported by an ensemble of dedicated, disciplined souls who voluntarily share their talents with compatriots and others convinced that it makes sense for psychic, social and cultural health of our society".
The upcoming final performances promises to do just this according to an NDTC spokesperson with the offering of such powerful revivals as Nettleford's 'Tintinabulum' and 'Pocomania', the work which was first created in 1963 after field trips to Marlborough, St. Mary and Salt Lane, West Kingston with the support of cultural anthropologist Edward Seaga, one of the two living founding patrons of the NDTC, the other being the Hon. Louise Bennett Coverley.
