Contributed
The National Dance Theatre Company dancers in the opening scene of 'Katrina', which depicts the New Orleans disaster of 2005. 'Katrina' is choreographed by Professor Rex Nettleford.

The National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) of Jamaica, internationally acclaimed and regionally and nationally acknowledged as the flagship of Jamaica and Caribbean dance theatre, hits 45 years of age and will celebrate the 2007 Season of Dance as such.

Beginning on July 20 the season is dedicated to the bicentenary observance of the abolition of the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans. The repertoire will reflect the observance as part of the theme of the NDTC's own theme of renewal and continuity.

The African presence informed in large part the artist's vision of the company from its inception in 1962, and the renewed engagement by innovative new-generation choreographers, dancers, singers and musicians ensures a continuing vitality, as well as fresh and new ideas and enactment in light of contemporary realities expressed by the new generation.

The choreographers who will be represented are: Christopher Walker (a dance/choreographer and budding scholar), his explorations with Jamaican popular music and its relation to tradition forms will unveil Hill 'N' Gully following on his Variations A Ska of last season, Arsenio Andrade-Calderon a stellar performer celebrates the Yoruba-inspired culture of his native Cuba with a remounting of Congo Laye but addresses the diversity of the region this season in his Out of Many ... while Jeanguy Saintus of Haiti has put on NDTC his Rhythm of the Gods (Rhythme des Dieux) as if in conscious tribute to the iconic place of Haiti in the process of black liberation. Shelley-Ann Maxwell returns from studies in London to join him with her quarterlet entitled Lament for Haiti.

Rastafari and revivalism

The long-established Caribbean rooted celebrations by artistic director Rex Nettleford utilising the music of region (including Rastafari and revivalism) is being brought back in tribute to the late Tommy Pinnock an early member of the NDTC.

The companion dance work Ritual of the Sunrise, created to Brazilian and Trinidadian music and inspired by Nobel laureate Derek Walcott, has received the sponsorship of Kenny Benjamin's Guardsman Limited, while the originally commissioned Kumina will join Gerrehbenta as vintage ancestral offerings. Last season's Katrina depicting agony of the New Orleans disaster is also being revived.

The major anniversary special is The Crossing, another Nettleford vintage masterwork, sponsored by Digicel Jamaica Limited as a centrepiece of the abolition observance. Featured dancers dressed by Denise Robinson (herself a former principal) are Marlon Simms and Natalie Chung, Arsenio Andre-Calderon and Patrick Earle, Kerry-Ann Henry and Kevin Moore with newcomer Allatunje Connell are remounted by dance captain Simms under the supervision of associate director Barry Moncrieffe.

Established choreographer founding member Bert Rose and Clive Thompson are presenting respectively Steal Away and Earth Birth (a Thompson retrospective). But the renewal is reinforced by the works of Shelley-Ann Maxwell (Beneath My Skin), Oneil Pryce Barre Talk and Marlon Simms (Millenium Beings).

Musical director Marjorie Whylie is preparing the NDTC Singers with four suite of songs, as well as for orchestral work for Celebration, Kumina, Gerrehbenta and Eduardo River's Sulkari.

The NDTC Singers and orchestra led by musical director Marjorie Whylie have renewed the choral segment with Faith Livingstone, Hellen Christian, Jhana Williams, Heston Boothe, Leighton Jones and Oswald Davis, who have joined veterans Carole Reid, Dawn Fuller-Philips, Dulcie Bouges, Carl Bliss, Wesley Scott, Howard Cooper and Earl Brown for the four suites of song arranged by Ms. Whylie for the season.

The orchestra, also under her leadership, remains Kamau Khalfani, and Minky Jafferson (now assistant musical director) on the flute, Wigmoore Francis on the guitar, Donald Waugh on the bass guitar, replacing Tangari Manning for the season, and Henry Miller leading fellow drummers, Ewan Simpson, Paul Green and Jesse Golding.

Rufus McDonald remains in charge of lighting, Tony Holness of sound, Tony Locke of stage management and Barbara Kaufman of wardrobe.

The works are dressed severally by Arlene Richards, Barry Moncrieffe, Bert Rose and Denise Robinson, working in close collaboration with choreographers.

The seasons will run from July 20 to August at the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue, Kingston 5.