Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Such grace and eloquence of movement.

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Precious angels, there once was a time when social observers and those involved in the business of punditry thought that the National Dance Theatre Company was a flash in the pan. They thought it would fall on the historical scrap heap groups with national aspirations but lacking in the organisational tenacity to survive petty jealousies that lead to the death of many a well-intentioned organisation.

At the time of its inception, and for some time thereafter, many thought that the notion of a dance company not officially sanctioned by the government was nothing more than the idle pursuit of a few bored upper-crust housewives and debutantes, buttressed by a sprinkling of ne'er-do-well young men, as well as a few from the lower economic and social stratum of the society.

The idea was that this fledgling organisation, with its pretence at forging a national identity through harnessing the nation's cultural perspective through dance, was not only infra dig, it was tantamount to social blasphemy. And few there were at the time who thought the NDTC would have outlived them and/or their empty but pious posturing.

Rex Nettleford must now be the very proud parent of this highly acclaimed national institution and justly so. And who in all this would or could begrudge this iconic intellectual giant and cultural maverick and his associates, who went against the grain in forging ahead on the path that has cemented the NDTC in the national cultural dialogue and the part it has played in our cultural growth.

Harebrained idea

Well, my dears, some years ago, in their foresight, the NDTC saw it fit to introduce an Easter Sunday programme to its roster of performances. There were doubting Thomases, who thought this, too, was another hare-brained idea, destined for failure. And one might be tempted to excuse those who doubted the viability of this addition to the performance roster as, after all, this was an Easter Sunday performance that was being touted for the 'ungodly' hour of 6 a.m.

Well daahlings, that was nigh two decades ago, and from its introduction to its last staging last Sunday, tickets and/or invites to the performance are one of its more sought-after cultural events on the Jamaican calendar. And not just from the cultural perspective either, as this event is a highly favoured social do to boot.

And so last Sunday, hordes of the populace poured out of the city, the cultural elite and the culture vultures braved the streets of Kingston in the wee hours of Sunday morning, to be seated by 5:45 a.m. at the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue, for this year's offering. And luvs, for the hundreds of dance lovers, patrons who turned out for the event, it was a dee-vinely spiritual encounter of the secular order!

Momentous occasion

Luvs, we are talking a reverential outing here from the very get-go as, upon arriving, it was made clear that this was special, with guests and patrons conversing in hushed, almost reverential whispers. And with senior members of the company acting as front office managers and/or ushers, the sense of the momentous occasion was complete.

And so it was that as the grey awnings of the pre-dawn morning took their leave of the skies, to be replaced by the brilliance of the sunshine, the NDTC opened its programme, at 6 a.m. on the dot, with the performance of the national anthem by the NDTC Singers. And from there on, it was indeed a feast of music and dance!

Dears, to be sure, the entire programme was dedicated to the Easter story and, to this extent, was a most enriching experience. Easter, however, is not only about the death of Christ on the universal symbol of martyrdom - the cross - but also of hope, as is promised by his resurrection. In this respect, the NDTC Singers' repertoire fell short because it became overly constrained by the sombre aspects of the crucifixion, and not the celebration of life and hope.

In fact, were it not for the all-powerful solo by Carl Bliss in Were You There that resonated from the eaves, the musical offerings, up to then, had a near comatose effect on the audience. And he was followed by Jhana Williams, in her rendition of Ave Maria, in accompaniment to Arsenio Andrade-Calderon. Talented dancer that Andrade Calderon is, the power emanating from the voice of Ms Williams completely overshadowed his performance, and kept the musical tempo at the level of arresting! And then, there was the NDTC's star that is unwilling to shine!

Luvs, if ever there was the embodiment of dancing talent, it is to be found in the person of Mark Phinn, a flawless performer, with the grace of the gazelle, the beauty of a stallion in full stretch. Mark Phinn is definitely the NDTC prima danseur, in the wings. This young talent treated patrons to a diet of his awesome talent.

The show's finale, however, Joyful Joyful, choreographed by Marlon Simms and with its Sister Act 11, soundtrack and inspiration, performed by the company, gave eminent meaning to the term finale - as a finale, in its truest sense, is nothing but the gilding of a lily, and for my word how, segueing as the company did into Psalm 150 it made for a fitting start to what was a glorious Easter Sunday!

Notables

Among the notables out were: Their Excellencies Professor Sir Kenneth and Lady Hall; president of the Senate, Dr Oswald and Marigold Harding; Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry and wife Dawn Chambers Henry; head of the EU Delegation, His Excellency Marco and Fiela Mazzocchi-Alemanni; Sir Roy and Lady Augier; Wycliffe and Dr Hazel Bennett; Professor Mervin and Helen Morris; Hon Barbara Gloudon; George Carter; Jeffery and Marjorie Cobbham; Noel and Beverly Dexter; Hugh Levy, out with his stunning daughter, the gorgeous Kathi Levy; Professor Barry Chevannes; Sarah Newland; Keith and Dorothy Noel; Sybil Toutoume-Obame; Rev John Scott; Hilary Phillips QC; Lennie Little-White and companion Cheryl Ryman; Brian Heap; Mr and Mrs Joe Perriera; Carmen Tipling; Joe Bryan; Sydney Roberts; Nancy McLean; Aston Cooke; Verica Bennett; Burchell Duhaney; Charmaine Lemonius; Patrick Pitter; Karlene Francis; Paul Morrison; Bertie Rose; Barry Moncrieffe; Bridgette Spaulding; Clive Thompson; Rufus McDonald; Monica Bartley; Wesley Scott; Audrey Reynolds; Lorna Myers; plus countless others.