NDTC:The dance continues - Keeping the legacy

Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

Tonight the Little Theatre's stage will come alive with creative movements as the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) presents its 48th season of dance. There is one difference this year - founder and artistic director Professor Rex Nettleford will not be personally greeting his special guests on their arrival in the lobby. Instead, having made his transition earlier this year, his happy spirit will be viewing the proceedings from afar.

The Gleaner observed Wednesday night's dress rehearsal and spoke to Nettleford's successor, Barry Moncreiffe, who said that it has been a rough time for the company since Nettleford's passing. Board chairman, Jeff Cobham, also admitted he still expects to hear Nettleford's voice when he gets an early-morning phone call.

Both men watched, made notes, worked their phones and made several trips backstage to iron out last-minute kinks.

From lighting, to costume, to sound, this dress rehearsal was the opportunity to ensure the usual seamless production the audience experiences on opening night. A group of overseas students, now participating in the summer school programme at the school of dance, was specially invited.

So how has the passing affected Cobham's role in the company?

Rex the Problem solver

"Rex covered so many bases and had influence in so many areas that if I had to give one name for his many functions, it would be 'problem solver'." Cobham told The Gleaner. But, he added, "people were happy to do Rex's bidding. He could pick up the phone and call anyone anywhere in the world and make things happen," Cobham said.

For Moncrieffe, though the period of mourning had been rough, the late artistic director left things in place for continuity.

"But it was still sudden." He said the dancers have done well and the company has united.

"We benefited tremendously from a grief-counselling exercise on mourning, facilitated by Reverend John Scott. He made us all write, on a piece of paper, what we felt about Rex, and pinned them to a large photograph of him that was in the room." That exercise was cathartic.

Moncrieffe also said the NDTC board has been very good to the company, and the people in key positions had played their parts well. So, activities like the regular Monday classes, formerly conducted by Nettleford, were now led by him, and the other classes are conducted by Marlon Simms and Arsenio Andrade-Calderon (who emigrates to Canada after the season).

The Gleaner asked Moncrieffe where Nettleford was most missed, and he said it was in his special way of talking to the group - his extraordinary skill for getting them to understand his vision was unique.To honour his memory, tonight's show will exclusively feature Nettleford's pieces - Misa Criolla, Cave's End, Spirits at a Gathering, Bujurama, Solo from the Islands and Gerebenta. All of these will only be seen on opening night. For the remainder of the season, which ends August 22, one dance will be featured on each night's programme.

Great expectations

Moncrieffe said he felt good about the season and opening night promised to be wonderful, "We are a family and every family has to deal with grief, at some point, so do we."

Cobham was also pleased that members of the company and the young dancers have all been putting their heart and soul into the work.

"We feel his presence in all we do. At the back of our minds is always the question of what he would do in a particular situation. He always maintained that you were only as good as your last performance. He abhorred the negative stereotypes placed on Caribbean people and did not pander to minstrels, so his legacy is strong," Cobham said. He stressed that if he had any concern, it would not be for the present generation of dancers who knew Nettleford, but for those coming decades down the road, who don't have the practical contact.

"My role now is to create the bridge and ensure that the feeling of legacy and responsibility are still there."

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com