MONTEGO BAY, St James — A standing ovation and packed auditorium at Iberostar Rose Hall Resort, Sunday evening, was a signal to principals of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) that Montego Bay is eager to play a larger role in its annual season of dance.

Enthralled by an evening of intense and beautifully choreographed pieces, the appreciative audience applauded heartily after each performance and were left appearing eager for more.

There were audible oohs and ahhs of amazement as members of the troupe twisted, twirled, leapt, and executed a range of intricate moves across the stage.

The show was also remarkable in that it was the first time ever in its 64-year history that the NDTC was closing its season in the second city.

As Montego Bay’s Mayor Richard Vernon explained, the show had a dual purpose: To assist local dance troupe First Dance Studios as it recovers from the impact of last October’s Hurricane Melissa and to fulfil NDTC’s Artistic Director Marlon D Simms’ long-held dream of bringing the event to St James.

Patrons enjoy the NDTC’s first-ever staging of its Season of Dance in Montego Bay.

“We’re happy to welcome the NDTC [to] the city of Montego Bay and I trust that this will not be, in the future, for the sake of Melissa, but for the sake of culture…” Vernon told the gathering Sunday night. “[T]his is real, sustainable and something we can look forward to.”

Also present was hotelier and Montego Bay Arts Council Chairman Josef Forstmayr, who said more of these events are needed in the western city.

“We have to work hard; Montego Bay is better than its reputation. We are not just about sun, sea, and sand. This is a place now that has a very solid demand for cultural entertainment more than reggae, and we need to make sure that we get our fair share,” he said. “As we can see tonight, we have the potential to make it a worthwhile and financially successful enterprise, and we all need to work together to get a proper theatre, to get a proper venue where we can host events of that nature; we deserve it.”

Forstmayr did not hold back in his assessment of the event.

Members of National Dance Theatre Company perform Rex Nettleford’s Gerrehbenta (1983) during a historic concert in Montego Bay on Sunday evening.

“You can see the turnout; it’s a fantastic turnout. There is an energy here. It makes you proud and then to see world-famous choreography, Many Rivers to Cross by [Rex] Nettleford, I mean, performed exquisitely by the elite dancers, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience — it’s spectacular, it’s just amazing, I’m over the moon,” he said.

The production was a feast for the senses, with its striking backdrops, vibrant colours, and eye-catching costumes complementing choreography that was precisely synchronised.

“It was exciting, we were all transfixed by what was happening on-stage…[I]t was a well-executed event, and I am very happy that I came this evening and we are looking forward to more for Montego Bay,” vice-president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Nadine Spence shared.

Local architect Isiaa Madden was also among those captivated by the performance.

National Dance Theatre Company performs Unscathed (2015) by Troy Powell before an enthusiastic Montego Bay audience Sunday evening.

“I think it’s fantastic! I think this is a great addition for Montego Bay, and I hope they’ll be back soon so that I can use my Sunday evenings to come to something like this, because it was great,” she said.

The NDTC’s artistic director also hinted that the performance could mark the beginning of something bigger for the company and the city.

“Perhaps tonight is more than a historic first; perhaps it’s the beginning of a new tradition,” Simms said to roaring applause.

Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon addresses patrons at the NDTC’s historic show in Montego Bay.

He went on to thank the city of Montego Bay for welcoming the company so warmly, for standing with First Dance Studios, and for showing so resoundingly that the arts have a vibrant home in western Jamaica.

The mayor touched on a long-standing challenge: The lack of a dedicated space for performances of this kind.

Fairfield Theatre now lies in ruins, leaving the city with few suitable venues.

“We have heard the call, as well, for a theatre in Montego Bay. I do not want us to take that lightly; we need it. We have many young talents and youngsters doing their bit right across Montego Bay,” Vernon said. “They need a place to express themselves on a Sunday evening like this so that the entire Montego Bay can come out and enjoy themselves.”

In a follow-up with the Jamaica Observer, Vernon explained how he believes such a facility could become a reality.

“We have property that we can use and we can look at it from two perspectives. One, we would make it be a Government approach and, two, it could be a joined-up approach with Government and private sector, and I am hoping for any of the approaches,” he said.

“At the moment we have property space to envision and to implement something like this; we just need the partnership to make it happen. We are not going to leave it at that, we are going to have the conversations with the relevant persons and see how best we can bring that into our space, because there is a need for it, not a want,” he charged.