NDTC tradition continues on Easter Sunday

The internationally renowned National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) will stage its 37th Morning of Movement and Music, in association with The Little Theatre Movement (LTM) at The Little Theatre, in Kingston this Sunday, beginning at 6 a.m. The rich programme of movement and music is expected to attract a full-capacity audience as is customary for the annual sunrise act of worship. The performance will be held under the leadership of newly appointed NDTC artistic director, Marlon Simms.

The morning's presentation will see a remount of Clive Thompson's critically acclaimed Of Prophecy and Song performed by Ballet Mistress Kerry-Ann Henry, and principal dancers, Mark Phinn and Tamara Noel. MoniKa Lawrence's Freedom, will feature Principal Dancer and soloist Marisa Benain and Kevin Moore's delicately woven Mercy will also feature Simms, Henry, Phinn, Benain, and Noel with Kemar Francis and Javal Lewis. Additionally, Arsenio Andrade Calderon's A Prayer, is to showcase the expressive range of the NDTC Ballet Mistress.

The repertoire will also include excerpts of dance works from NDTC Co-Founder and late Artistic Director, Rex Nettleford (Katrina and Cave's End) as well as those from guest choreographers: former NDTC dancer Yendi Phillipps (I Grieve) and Sherona McAllister and Charissa Allwood of One Body One God OBOG Dance Company Ministry (Shabach). The full cast of dancers include Patrick Earle, Paul Newman, Kamar Tucker, and Sophia McKain, with new generation dancers, Kemar Francis, Michael Small, Javal Lewis, Rachel Walter, Shade Thaxter, Mishka Williams, Joelle Flimn, Nneka Staple and Malikah Johnson.

Soul-stirring

According to the NDTC's artistic director, "the programme planned for Easter Sunday is diverse and inspiring. This year's selection of negro spirituals and gospel is sure to be soul stirring and moving."

Simms shared that NDTC Singers and Orchestra will be led by acting Musical Director, Heston Boothe, who has prepared an uplifting musical feast comprising Go Down Moses and Honor! Honor!. Contemporary gospel arrangements will be Kurt Carr's His Blood Has Miraculous Power and Jonathan Reynold's No Gray.

Rounding up the musical selections will be Handel's Messiah The Halleluiah Chorus, How Great Thou Art by Sandi Patty, The Lord Bless and Keep You and Noel Dexter's popular arrangement of Psalm 150.

The music will be performed by a corps of long-standing NDTC Singers, Helen Christian (contralto), Faith Livingston (soprano), Conrod Hall (baritone) and Kemar Lee (tenor) with new generation singers Tah-je Thompson and Joshua Page (tenors), Kaydene Gordon and Sarina Constantine (sopranos), and Debrah Rosewelt and Kamala Nicholson-Johnson (contraltos).

The NDTC Orchestra remains with veteran musician Wigmore Francis on guitar, Kevan Wiliams on piano as well as Master Drummer Henry Miller and Jesse Golding on percussion.