THE July 18th opening night of the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica’s (NDTC) 63rd season was a breath-taking immersion in wonder and cultural excellence.

Under the theme ‘Bloom’, the production showcased the breadth of the repertoire of the acclaimed company, which has seen Jamaica through all its years of independent development. And, as a mark of its maturity, NDTC functions as an incubating space for not only creative talent, but for charities and causes which depend on the annual event for critical fund-raising. Friday’s show was in benefit of JamCoders, a free four-week residential summer camp for high school students in third, fourth and fifth forms. The camp is held annually at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Mona campus’ Department of Computing.

“It was quite an honour to partner with the NDTC in staging this benefit for JamCoders. JamCoders is a unique programme in Jamaica which creates layers of opportunities for our children,” said Klao Bell-Lewis, patron of the evening.

“Of great importance to me is its accessibility and merit-based focus, allowing applicants from all across Jamaica to earn a space, based on merit, and be introduced to algorithms and programming. They also receive guidance and insights which help build their social skills and capacity to think ahead about further education and career options. I am especially pleased with the attendance of young people whose exposure to the arts is equally important to that of their affinity for technology.”

The diverse audience was mesmerised by new dance pieces which amplified the skill, athleticism, precision and fine technique of the dancers.

“I enjoyed the show from the moment it started, straight through until the end. It was my first time seeing dance performed with that level of emotion and precision. I could feel every movement and left with a whole new appreciation for the art of dance,” said 18-year-old Thrinai Smart, thespian and incoming student of The UWI.

Amelia Smith, 19-year-old UWI student, who was also a first-time attendee, said, “The performances were lovely. You could feel the energy and emotion radiating from each dancer. It is a true tribute to Jamaica’s vibrant culture.”

Five new dance pieces were included in this year’s season, including those from established and new choreographers. The NDTC singers and musicians maintained their usual remarkable standard, delivering wit, social commentary in classic and new arrangements.

And the next generation of NDTC supporters offered similar views.

“I believe the show was truly amazing. It really brought together the aspects of different dancing styles. It also expressed the thought of being a Jamaican show; the different ethnicities that came together to form this bond. The dancing and singing together made the night worthwhile,” said 12-year-old Gavrielle Berry, immediate past deputy head girl of Shortwood Practising Primary School.

Old McDonald Farms Ltd, Coca-Cola, MoneyMasters Ltd, and HickeyGrant Property Masters Ltd were sponsors of a delightful pre-event cocktail. Fitzroy Ferguson, marketing manager of Old McDonald Farms Ltd, explained his company’s support.

“We are a family company that was birthed in and continues to be integrated within rural Jamaican communities. Like the NDTC, throughout our almost 40 years of operation, we have been committed to Jamaica and excellent quality, so we are proud to have supported this STEAM [science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics] effort which contributes to development of youth, technology and the creative sector.”