NDTC Diamond Season of Dance to benefit several charitable initiatives

The National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica (NDTC) kicks off its Diamond Season of Dance at the Little Theatre on Friday, July 22, with a gala performance.

The commemorative season will feature new works and audience favourites from Rex Nettleford, Barbara Requa, Marlon D. Simms, Arsenio Andrade Calderon, Chris Walker, Carson Daley, Milton Sterling, Paul Newman, and guest choreographers David Brown, Leni Wylliams, Jamie T. Thompson, Orville McFarlane, and Reneé McDonald.

The season of dance will run for four weekends and all but one of the shows are benefit performances.

Devon Malcolm Brewster and the Netball Foundation of Jamaica are set to benefit from the performances slated for the first weekend. Brewster, a final-year student at The University of the West Indies studying medicine, hopes to raise sufficient funds to offset the cost of his tuition on July 23. The Netball Foundation, the organisation charged with developing the sport in Jamaica, sees the performance as a viable opportunity to raise funds. Their benefit performance will take place on Sunday, July 24.

Shows on July 29 to 31 will see funds being raised for the Cecil Cooper Foundation, which was launched in June 2022; the Kiwanis Club of Kingston and EVE for Life. Students from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) will benefit from funds raised by the Cecil Cooper Foundation, which will offer scholarships and bursaries to help new artists pursue studies at the college. The Kiwanis Club of Kingston will also assist young people through their social development projects while EVE for Life will continue to support adolescent girls who are at risk for unplanned pregnancy, HIV and sexual violence.

REAL BOOST

St Jago High School infrastructural development will receive a real boost from the show on August 5 and the EMCVPA will raise funds to repair the Hope Brooks Paint Studio, which was badly damaged by recent fires. Sandwiched between the two performances will be a special children’s show for youngsters in state care. The Independence Day performance, which is free, will be specially curated, and will include a lecture demonstration.

Concluding the four weeks of performances will be benefit shows for the Art of Motivation, Consie Walters Cancer Care Hospice and Wolmer’s Girls’ Alumnae, on August 12, 13 and 14, respectively. Art of Motivation will use its funds to introduce an art intervention programme in schools across the island geared towards addressing stress and triggers for violence, by creating safe spaces for expression. Their ultimate aim is to reduce violence in schools. The Wolmer’s Girls’ Alumnae will focus on developing special programmes to empower young ladies at the institution, and The Consie Walters Cancer Care Hospice will seek funds for their work in medical care.

The NDTC’s 60th anniversary celebration will be marked under the theme ‘Energise and illuminate’.

Tickets for the season may be purchased at the Little Theatre. Reservations may be made by emailing ndtcjamaica@gmail.com.