Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer 
Expression is key in 'Sammy Dead'.
As the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) begins their 46th season of dance, it is easy to forget that it is the season that is 46, not the dancers, who from appearances, are all young men and women. And that despite Jamaica's current cultural climate of mediocrity, the NDTC has managed to continue to produce works of a high standard. This was evident on opening night, Friday, July 25, at the Little Theatre, in St Andrew.
Dubbed 'National Dance Theatre Company: Season of Dance 2008', the two-segment show, which comprised six dances and a musical interlude by the NDTC Singers, was a thrilling display of great dancing, beautiful singing, colourful costumes, compelling sound effects and creative choreography.
Choreographers
At the helm of this feast of artistry were choreographers Clive Thompson (Sammy Dead, a solo excerpt from Folktales), Arsenio Andrade-Calderon (Asisomos), Marlon Simms (Millennial Beings) and NDTC's artistic director, Rex Nettleford (Sly Mongoose - Character Sketches 2, the opening number Katrina and closing dance Kumina).
Kumina was a fitting finale. Performed by 'the company', it is energetic and colourful, as well as giving insight into one of Jamaica's indigenous dances. The presence of ritualistic elements, such as the sprinkling of 'spirit' in the four corners, was effective. Well-defined movements and formation were reinforced by a creatively decorated backdrop which depicted a full moon and mountainous terrain. Generally, all the dancers performed well, but Marlon Simms was more convincing as the 'King'. Kumina is one of three dances from the "active repertoire".
Second item
The characters are jolly in 'Sly Mongoose - Character Sketches 2.' - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Katrina is also an "active repertoire" and the second item of Nettleford's choreography on the programme. It is a dance in seven episodes and performed by 'the company'. Using the 'legendary 2005 hurricane Katrina that flattened New Orleans' as his springboard, Nettleford begins with New Orleans Revelry, in essence a jazz dance, and ends with Hymn of Hope. The highlight of this selection is the spectacular use of sounds and visual effects as transition from the episode the 'New Orleans Revelry' to 'The Storm'. Again the dancers were brilliant in the execution of movements and formation, especially the semicircle formation. Also costume designers, Barry Moncrieffe and Denise Francis-Robinson, must be applauded for designing not only flexible costumes, but ones that further enhance the performance.
Opening the show was the dance Sly Mongoose - Character Sketches 2, a 'new work' of Rex Nettleford. While this dance was technically sound and clinically executed, it did not produce the excitement generated by Kumina and Katrina, and as such, received a rather weak applause from the full house despite a convincing portrayal of drunkards by the male dancers. Perhaps one area that might be worth reviewing is the seemingly overuse of the diagonal formation. But no doubt with some reworks and time Sly Mongoose - Character Sketches 2 will one day be amongst the best.
In Millennial Beings, an avant garde dance, Marlon Simms demonstrated his talents as dancer and choreographer. Beginning on a partially lit stage two dancers, Simms and Mark Phinn, gather the emotions of the audience and carry them on a journey of creativity. With the use of excellent extension of bodies and provocative movements the two, clad in tight-fitting short blue unitards and gold strings wrapped around their bodies from shoulders to head, kept the audience spellbound to the end of their act. Broken from the trance the audience showed its appreciation with sustained applause.
Depth of talent
Arsenio Andrade-Calderon's selection, Asisomos, reinforced the depth of the talent in the NDTC. Decked in long pants only, the all-male dance was a display of speed and strength. Outstanding is the choreographer's use of space and entrances and exits and a spectacular ending.
The logistics of moving and placing actors/dancers on stage can be very challenging, so imagine having to not only position 18 dancers but also 11 singers. However, the ease with which the NDTC singers move and perform from their different positions from down in the pit to standing downstage left was remarkable. Except for their musical interlude where they perform their suite of old hits, the NDTC Singers carry out their role as vocal support admirably.
National Dance Theatre Company: Season of Dance 2008 is one for the entire family.
