NDTC celebrates Nettleford

Krista Henry, Gleaner Writer

The National Dance Theatre Company's (NDTC) tribute to founder Rex Nettleford, who passed away last year, was intense and diverse - much like Nettleford himself.

Held on Monday at the Little Theatre, the home of the NDTC, the fairly packed auditorium enjoyed more than two hour's worth of entertainment from some of the best dancers in the island.

Put on by the Rex Nettleford Foundation, the show spoke to some of the work that the foundation does. The foundation also provided a thoughtful look at the past, the retention of past cultural art forms but also looked at the future of dance.

The show appropriately begun and ended with pieces choreographed by Nettleford himself.

For many years, Nettelford, one of the most revered cultural figures in Jamaica, juggled duties with the NDTC and the University of the West Indies (UWI), where he was vice-chancellor from 1997 to 2004. He was the NDTC's choreographer and artistic director, and continued to lecture at UWI's Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) and Trade Union Education Institution. Nettleford received many awards for his contribution to academia and the arts. He was a recipient of the Order of Merit, Jamaica's third-highest honour.

The tribute to Nettleford kicked off with the Spirits At A Gathering, followed by the NDTC singers and a piece titled Sweet in the Morning, choreographed by Leni Wylliams and danced by Marlon Simms.

Phases of the Moon from choreographer Clive Thompson was well received by the audience. After a musical interlude, Jeanguy Saintus' Incantation took centrestage, before the energetic Asi Somos from choreographer Arsenio Andrade-Calderon provided the audience with even more entertainment.

A moving piece called Caged had the audience's eyes glued to the stage, and the closing piece, Kumina, which was also choreographed by Nettleford, had persons tapping their feet to the infectious beat. Some audience members stood and cheered, but all left with a smile. Nettleford's memory will live on for a long time.