Jamaica is set for an electrifying celebration of dance excellence as Plie’s AMALGAMATION Gala returns to the Little Theatre on August 29 and 30.

Marking the 10th anniversary of Plié for The Arts, this milestone edition promises to be its most spectacular staging yet.

Held under the distinguished patronage of Misty Copeland, AMALGAMATION Gala 2026 will close its Caribbean tour in Jamaica after performances in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

This year’s gala will honour Desmond Richardson, the iconic American dancer, choreographer, co-founder and co-artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

The full company will headline the programme, bringing the Caribbean première of Dwight Rhoden’s show-stopping Love Rocks, set to music by Lenny Kravitz, along with Rhoden’s other breathtaking works Ave Maria and Mercy.

Audiences will also see New York City Ballet’s Christopher Grant in a duet with the stunning Ashley Green of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The ever-spectacular Caught by Parsons Dance, as well as Suite Etta, a stunning piece performed by Adji Cissoko, recently named associate artistic director, and her electrifying dance partner, Shuaib Elhassan from Alonzo King LINES Ballet.

Adding to the excitement, the Plié Caribbean Collective, now featuring exceptional dancers from across the region, will share the stage with these international stars. The Collective will perform powerful works from its repertoire with the Caribbean première of On the Verge of Ascending, created by Swedish choreographer Jon Ole Olstad and Carmina Burano choreographed by Ilya Jivoy delivering a true fusion of Caribbean talent and global brilliance.

At the heart of AMALGAMATION is a bold vision of bringing the best of the world together with the best of the region.

Beyond the stage, the gala creates opportunities for training and artistic exchange through workshops and masterclasses led by participating global companies. As part of the celebration, Complexions Contemporary Ballet will host free masterclasses, with outstanding participants eligible for immersive scholarship opportunities with the company.

With a different experience offered each night, AMALGAMATION has grown into a regional destination event with global ambition. Founder and Artistic Director Marisa Benain says the gala is built to stand among the world’s best: “The Amalgamation Gala offers audiences a programme and an experience that is hard to match anywhere in the world. We have what it takes to produce a dance gala at an international standard, and our aim is always to make each Amalgamation Gala more spectacular than the last.”

Desmond Richardson, co-founder and co-artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, will be honoured at the gala.