Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Marlon Simms leads the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica in the popular work 'The Crossing.'Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Precious few, when the history of developing Jamaica is written, it can be credited with the sterling contribution made by Professor Rex Nettleford. He has made invaluable contribution to the development of the arts and culture, but more specifically, dance - the vehicle he used to celebrate the rich energy of the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica (NDTC).
Some have called the illustrious dance company fortuitous, others have said iconic. It has proven in the fullness of time to be all of the above, and then some, as there are those (this here scribe included) who regard the NDTC with awe, as there is absolutely no doubt that those who invested their blood, sweat and tears in the formation and creation of the company did so with an abundance of foresight and sense of vision.
The NDTC is more Jamaican than the national dish, as it was born from the inspiration to forge a uniquely Jamaican national dance ensemble that was authentic in its core representations of the emerging national identity, spirit and psyche. Oh, the battles the young Rex Nettleford must have fought to keep the dream of the company, its mission and essence at the forefront of social and political consciousness.
That he has triumphed, there is no question. That the NDTC is the region's foremost authority on contemporary Afro-Caribbean dance speaks to the overall triumph of the dream and vision of the founding members and patrons, and the aficionados who have given the company sustenance over the years by way of near religious enthusiastic support.
Now, y'all know that when it comes to dance, there's nothing like the magic of an opening night, or a gala! To be sure, while opening night is the preferred profiling night for some, true dance aficionados will skip the glitz and glam of an opening night for a time to be determined, based on information and reviews when the ensemble has hit peak form.
Well, my daahlings, in this the 45th year of its being, the NDTC hosted a gala performance on Friday, July 27, followed by a dinner and dance, that will long be celebrated due to the beauty, ingenuity and sheer artistry that emanated from the performing stage and enveloped guests in the theatre!
Fabulous musical
My dears, one of the least acknowledged components of the annual season of the NDTC is the absolutely fabulous musical accompaniment that is provided by the company's chorale and orchestra. Theirs is the duty over the years to provide the appropriate music to bring vivid musical imagery to the fore, complementing dance and dancers.
And even when the score is music taken from the menu of popular culture, the marriage of dance and music has never failed to transport audiences from passive vicarious onlookers to active participants at the very heart and soul of the performance.
It makes an NDTC performance a must-see for the culturally aware or curious before you die! Such, my dears, is the power and import of the company's rich repertoire and poignancy, in this socially evolving atmosphere.
Talk about relevance! Well, my dears, if y'all missed last Friday evening's gala performance, then pumpkins, pity yourselves as you are the poorer for having done so! Oh, where do we begin, but at the beginning. And what a beginning!
As was advertised and expected, the curtains went up following on the singing of the national anthem, at 8:00 p.m. With the Rex Nettleford choreographed 'Celebrations' that first debuted in 1972, and proved a most fitting opening tribute, coming as it did in the throes of our national independence celebrations. It was followed by an interlude of music from the company's singers, doing a medley of folk songs that saw noted tenor Carl Bliss' booming voice filling the theatre with melodic virtue.
'Beneath My Skin' was thenext offering - a fabulous contemporary look at race and racial issues and its effects on those who encounter this socialised aberration through the dialogue of dance with the oh so fabulously talented Marisa Benain, making this her very own signature statement. Inasmuch as memory will allow, last season's star was definitely Mark Phinn. This season, it's all about the talented Marlon Simms, his athletic prowess and raw talent clearly fusing to the point of making him the season's star; a point he underlined with magnificence in the solo performance of 'Suite In The Morning.'
Now, 'Rhythm of The Gods' is one of two pieces sponsored by the Guardsman company this season, and in it, guests are treated to a rich musical feast as well as a flawless dance; a piece that is clearly destined for greatness in the dance annals of the company. But it was "The Crossing" - a moving dance narrative of the transatlantic trade in slaves and journeys in the Americas, set to the soundtrack of Alex Hailey's Roots, that brought the curtains down on the gala, and for my word, what a most fitting and exciting offering on which to close a fabulously wealthy night of music and dance!
And then there was the dinner and dance that followed! My daahlings, at $5,000 per person, the NDTC gala was easily the hottest ticket in town.
Imagine a most edifying dance recital followed by a most glorious opportunity to party with the principals of the legendary company, not to mention a feast of faultless proportions prepared and served up by Lorraine Fung and her staff! Sure, there were some speeches, but not of the stuff that would make you cringe for their lack of brevity - it was all fine and in good stead, and painted a perspective in collage, rather than endurance, and thus made for one beautiful do.
Among the notables were: Governor-General The Most Honourable Professor Kenneth Hall and Mrs. Rheima Hall; The Most Honourable Edward Seaga and Carla Seaga; Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips and his lovely wife Sandra Minott Phillips; Erla Junor; British High Commissioner HE Jeremy Cresswell and his companion Dr. Barbara Munske; Ambassador Stewart Stephenson; Honorary Consul of Ukraine Kenny Benjamin and his companion Aloima Suarez; Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Thailand Thalia Lyn; NDTC chairman Jeff Cobham; and former chairman John Cooke; Barclay and Deidre Ewart; Douglas and Melanie Graham.
Also present were: Audley Butler, in from Chicago; Jean Binns, flew in from New York; Bert Rose; Monica Potts-Lawrence; Barry Moncrieffe; Maria LaYacona; PJ Stewart; Professor Dr. Errol Morrison and his wife Dr. Fay Whitbourne; Dr. Marjorie Holding Cobham; Dr. Charles and Corina Meeks; Churchill and Valerie Neita; Rev. Ralph Hoyt; Dr. Blossom O'Meally-Nelson; Wayne Chen and wife Diana Thorburn as well as Rachel and Alannah Chen and their friend Allison Shaw; Patrick and Marguerite Lynch; Hillary Phillips Q.C.; Peter Fraser; Sheila Benjamin McNeill and her mother-in-law Valerie McNeill.
We also saw: Dennis and Moira Charley; Dr. Peter Glaze; Carmen Tipling; Dr. Winston and Noelle Chutkhan; Karen Forde Warner; Glen Kaisse; the elegant Sandra Shirley; Dr. David Lambert Brown; Karin Daley; Earl Moore; Angela Patterson; Nancy McLean; Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Cadogan; Gawayne Forbes; May Lawrence Evans; Vinay Walia; Bridgette Spaulding; Sylvia Baghaloo; Sydney Roberts, Robert Stephenson; Paula Asuntoa; Gavin Gunther; Paula Robinson who flew in from Trinidad; Glynnis Salmon; Patrick Pitter; the lovely Francesca de Majo, plus several scores more.
My dears, to crown this milestone and to salute the tenacity of the founding artistic director, the only fitting tribute must now come from a grateful nation, and the only fitting tribute would be that of renaming the Little Theatre - The NDTC Dance Auditorium. And Tom Redcam Avenue should be renamed the Rex Nettleford Boulevard - this is the least we could do for a company and a man who have not only inspired us, by using the mirror to show us positive reflection of ourselves, but have managed to show our gentler and more creative side to a world long convinced that savagery was our primary cultural trait!
