NDTC’s 49th season opens this Friday
THE 49th Season of Dance of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) will open at the Little Theatre on Tom Redcam Drive in Kingston this Friday, July 22.
NDTC’s Artistic Director, Barry Moncrieffe has advised that performances will be on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 5 pm for five weekends until Sunday August 22.
As in former years, both new as well as remounted dance works will be presented, and the NDTC singers under the direction of the musical director, Marjorie Whylie will perform two suites of Caribbean songs, three songs from Slim and Sam, popular Jamaican minstrels of the mid-twentieth century, and a tribute to Coxsone. The singers will also present an African suite of songs from central Africa and its west coastal states, in recognition of the UN proclamation of 2011 as the International Year for People of African descent.
New Dance Works
NDTC’s new generation choreographers have added five new pieces to the company’s repertoire.
“Natalie Chung will make her debut as a choreographer for the NDTC with The Thin Line, a full company dance, led by dancers Tamara Noel and Allatunje Connell, and Neila Ebanks has mounted For a Splintered Soul, a trio for male dancers, featuring Kevin Moore, Patrick Earle and Paul Newman,” the artistic director said.
Other new generation choreographers whose works will be represented include ballet mistress, Kerry-Ann Henry; Oniel Pryce, Stefanie Thomas and Christina Gonzalez. Thomas’ Rebel Woman as well as Gonzalez’s creation Far From Heaven were premiered at the NDTC’s young choreographers’ concert held at the company’s studio in December of last year.
The artistic director also revealed that the season of dance will feature works produced by the company’s late co-founder, artistic director and moving spirit, Professor Rex Nettleford. Blood Canticles (1996), Gerrehbenta (1983) and Drumscore (1979) with Caribbean rhythms and melodies arranged by Marjorie Whylie.
Ancestral Images by established resident choreographer Clive Thompson, Cry of the Spirit from Gene Carson, and Freedom choreographed by MoniKa Lawrence and coached by Patsy Ricketts complete this year’s active repertoire.
