Stella Maris remounts 'African Nite' for Jamaica 50

In commemoration of Jamaica's 50th year of Indepen-dence, the Stella Maris Dance Ensemble will remount African Nite, one of the group's seminal pieces, as part of its 19th Season of Dance to be held from Thursday to Sunday at The Little Theatre.

The Season will be under the patronage of Wayne Chen, CEO of SuperPlus Foods.

Since its inception the company has established itself as one of Jamaica's most innovative and creative dance companies, often paying homage to Jamaica's strong folk culture with dance narratives.

"In this the year of Jamaica's Jubilee, we thought it fitting to remount the piece, but rework it into a fuller story of Jamaica's Revivalist movement, one of the island's indigenous religious forms, which gave birth to ska and the Rastafarian movement in the 1960s," said Dr MoniKa Lawrence, founder and artistic director of Stella Maris Dance Ensemble.

Interesting storyline

African Nite is being remounted under the supervision of Wendi Hoo Fatt, principal dancer and founding member of the Stella Maris Dance Ensemble.

Originally choreographed by Lawrence in 2004, African Nite explores the journey of a man who goes for healing in a balm yard and embarks on a spiritual journey in which he gains renewed strength and knowledge from his ancestors.

On his return to the physical world, the congregation celebrates his ordination as their new shepherd.

This dance will incorporate all aspects of the performing arts, with live music from gospel singer Crissy D and the Nexus Performing Arts Company; master drummers Calvin Mitchell and Phillip Supersad; with Reajhaun Baptiste on steel pans.

six pieces

The dance soloists are principal dancer of Stella Maris Dance Ensemble Andre Hinds, as the Shepherd, and principal dancer and founding member Karen Seymour-Johnson as the Church Mother. The costumes are designed by top designer Denise Francis-Robinson.

The season will also feature a total of six pieces. Among them are the remount of three standards - Selah and Baka Beyond, choreographed by Lawrence, and Transition, choreographed by Abeldo 'Toki' Gonzalez.

The two original pieces will be Reflections, choreographed by Abeldo 'Toki' Gonzalez, and Toromato by Cuba's Eduardo Rivero.

Toromato is to feature a prelude solo choreographed by Gonzalez, to be performed by Amo Rivero, principal dancer of Compania del Caribe Nacional de Santiago, Cuba, and guest artiste for the 19th season.