Wayne Clare gets a warm hug for Anthea Domville on opening night of the Jamaica National Dance Theatre Company's 47th season of dance at the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue, last Friday. - photos by Winston Sill/ Freelance Photographer

For some time now, commentators and some talking heads, looking for a clever sounding sound bite that will elevate their paltry contribution to nation development to being news-worthy, have been labelling Jamaica 'the land of samples'.

There are case studies like that to be found in Jamaica but that does not necessarily make it a condition unique to us. For each case of 'sample' that commentators point out to bolster their argument, there are some equally compelling cases of successes that point to the creativity, dedication and long-suffering required to make a successful product and or institution.

A case in point is the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), a national institution founded and maintained primarily on a spirit of volunteerism by individuals dedicated to and motivated by the idea and notion that wee need cultural institutions and symbols, that will serve to help in the forging of and maintenance of our unique identity and help to anchor us as a people.

In this respect, the NDTC has been a vanguard against the cultural proliferation that has been dominating some of our neighbours and other societies worldwide.

Independent Jamaica

Some 47 years ago, at the dawn of independent Jamaica, a group of ambitious young people, under the leadership of Rex Nettleford, came together and gave Jamaica one of its first cultural institutions, the NDTC. This pioneering dance company that went on to win over international and national critics and acclaim in its quest to document, preserve and present a non-Eurocentric perspective of Afro-Caribbean dance and culture through our own eyes, stands tall, a contradiction of those who would propagate the notion of this country being a nation of samples.

Artistic director and founder Rex Nettleford greets Bridgette Spaulding.

Today, the Rex Nettleford NDTC is a tower of strength in a nation still searching for its cultural identity and soul, due to the emergence of the all-pervasive influence of cable television and global marketing strategies dominated by conglomerates fuelled by the culture of cash and immediacy.

Fab occasion

Last Friday the NDTC premiered its 2009 Season of Dance, with the staging of its 47th anniversary programme, and what a beauty it was just to be present on such a fab occasion.

Now y'all know that opening nights for theatre goers is always a mixed bag. Their jitters and nervousness, the showcasing of new works and, above all, the malaise that sets in from all those hours of rehearsal, which results in the cast being somewhat tired. It often translates into a less than stellar performance, despite their best effort. Well, all these ingredients were present at last Friday's opening night but there was no denying the magnificence of the NDTC dancers, choreographers, chorus and musicians from the minute the curtains went up.

From the opening number, Sly Mongoose, choreographed by the grand master himself, the esteemed Professor Nettleford, to the moment it went down on the night's final presentation, Apocalypse, also choreographed by him, it was magnificent!

The cast and crew, in general, were beyond criticism, having honed their craft in song, dance, choreography and music. There were, however, a few glaring examples when one's best is simply not good enough and this materialised itself in the presence on stage in a lead role of a cast member whose girth and size was more of a distraction than a vision entertainment. And then there was the Moments of Peace, a dance pregnant with possibilities and begging to be harnessed and directed, but was devoid of intellectual clarity and or purpose, a fact made worse by the costumes the choreographer decided on outfitting his ensemble.

These two glaring anomalies aside, coupled with some uncouth persons who insisted on chatting on their mobile phones during the performance, it was a glorious night with offerings like Caged, a new dance choreographed and performed by the obviously multi-talented Kerry-Ann Henry, that proved a beautiful essay, bereft of mundane prose and, were it not for the challenges of the lighting, could have been the night's best discovery.

That, however, was reserved for a rediscovery really, as this was a revival that was first showcased in 1997 and has been in and out of the repertoire since. Choreographed by the eminent professor, the choreography, music, costuming and essay told a most eloquent story of a 47 year-old company that has mastered the art of renewal and continuity without being disruptive and made for a most glorious and beautiful work of art!

Clive Thompson's Vignettes of Life was the opening night's penultimate offering and here, the beauty of this piece is that at first it envelops the viewer, then it cajoles him/her into thinking I am on safe ground with this one, then it simply leaves you out there, wanting more and feeling foolish for not following the dialogue, which would have prevented this. Then there was Apocalypse, the final offering and one of the new works mounted by the company for this season and choreographed by Nettleford. It is a welcomed new addition to the company's portfolio of dances and one that will survive the test of time due to its poignant themes of abuse, retribution, rejection and redemption and underlying message of hope, springing eternally. Here the company dancers are at ease, and fabulously so, the subject matter clearly one with which they are more than comfortable and consequentially, shine like stars, and thus brought the curtains down, in glorious style, the company singers in full battle mode!

Socialite

Among those out were: businessman and socialite Russell Graham and his lovely wife Melanie Graham; Ambassador Stewart Stephenson; Professor Barry Chevannes; Dr Winston Chutkhan and wife, the lovely Noelle Chutkhan; Syd Bartley of the culture ministry; the very charming Jean Barnes, choreographer Clive Thompson, musicologist Noel Dexter; Barbara Requa; her daughter Danielle Requa; and her family, also out; award-winning playwright Aston Cooke; Bridget Spaulding; Jonathan Brooks; Clive and Dorothy Dacres; Joseph and Teresa Kerr; Arsenio Andrade-Calderon, Anton and Jean Swaby; and naturally, Professor Rex Nettleford himself; plus a number of others.

Luvs, the season runs through to August 23 and with a number of new works still to be premiered, y'all know we are talking a number of return visits to the hallowed halls of the Little Theatre to bask in the artistry and talent on offer!

Douglas and Melanie Graham never miss an opening night.