All about the beautiful people

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

The Easter holidays are upon us and children so too are the festivities!

Last weekend, it was all about Hedonism III in Runaway Bay but this weekend is most definitely all about Hedonism II in fabulous Negril! Forget Florida or New York as a getaway option this weekend as with visa jitters still stalking some of the flying classes, most are opting to stay on Jamaican terra firma rather than run the risk of suffering the embarrassment of turning up at airports only to be told that their visas are no longer valid. So it's all about destination Jamaica for this here Easter bank holidays and it promises to be a blast.

Being Easter, the premier cultural event for the season is the traditional National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) Easter Sunday offering, titled A Morning of Movement and Music, at the Little Theatre, on Tom Redcam Avenue, getting under way at 6 a.m. sharp (requiring guests to be in their seats at least 15 minutes before showtime). This Sunday promises to be an extra-special treat, coming as it is after the transition of the company's founder, the late Professor Rex Nettleford, which will see the NDTC paying homage to the iconic father of Jamaican and Caribbean dance by showcasing the choreographed works of the beloved professor in tribute and testimony to his work and creative genius over the years. The offering will include excerpts from 10 of the professor's most prolific dances, including 'Ritual of the Sunrise', 'Misa Criolla', 'Tintinabulum', 'Islands', 'Blood Canticles', and the ever and eternally popular 'Crossings', plus musical offerings from the company's singers.

The party hearty will be flocking to the north and south coasts to soak up sun and sand and party up a holiday storm, the friends and relatives of Vinay Walia and his fiancée, the charmingly beautiful Sidjae Robinson, will be breaking their holiday weekend to attend the couple's wedding this Saturday, as they gather in Stony Hill to exchange their vows. This one promises to be a smasheroni and so more anon.

And speaking of nuptials, it's now all set, and the debonair, Mark Brooks and his betrothed the lovely Virginia Burke, are all set to tie the marital knot in early May.

The fabulously lovely Michelle Crumback, of Calgary, Canada, and fiancée Dr Curtis Stone, who just finished holidaying on the north coast, will celebrate her birthday on April 7, just two weeks before they tie the knot in what is an expected fab do on the Mayan Riviera in Mexico on the 21st. Congrats all around and many happy returns!

And the fab couple, Howard Barton and his wife Nancy Kalb Barton, jetted in over the weekend for some rest and relaxation ahead of their 10th wedding anniversary this summer. Also jetting in this week will be international financial consultant Brent Ciurlino and his ultra-gorgeous wife Dr Kim Brown, who arrive midweek from their Southern Californian home for a bit of fun and relaxation and catching up with family and friends. And happy birthday wishes to the debonair Lester Spaulding, chairman of the RJR Group, and Yvonne Wilks, who both celebrate their birthday today. Former public defender and noted attorney-at-law Howard Hamilton celebrates on April 2 as will the founder of the American based international group, Teens For Technology, Anders Jones, and Jamaican-born businesswoman Yvonne Witter in London, England. Model and actor Kanhai Condison celebrates on Saturday. Dwight Moore; Haixara Owen, of Montego Bay; and the lovely Dionne Evans; and charming Phillipa Douglas of Spanish Town and Treadways will all celebrate their birthday on April 4.

Celebrity photographer Tanya Eldemire, the lovely Alicia Nicole Fredericks and the beautiful Lydia Moss-Solomon all celebrate on April 5. Celebrated musician Steven 'Cat' Coore of Third World fame celebrates on April 6 as will the lovely Melody Walker, who will be celebrating in Leeds, in the United Kingdom. The charmingly lovely Deidre Ewart celebrates next Thursday along with businessman Lennie Chin.

Festivities

April 9 will see the lovely Sharon McConnell and Keith Anthony celebrating, and come next Saturday, it will be all about former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who celebrates his 75th birthday, with the festivities slated for the north coast. More anon, as this one promises to be a smasheroni!

Then belated birthday wishes to Dr David Boxer, who celebrated his birthday on March 17 and former Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas, who celebrated his birthday on March 28. Belated greetings and wishes also to Betty Sullivan Black and Lennie Haye, who both celebrated on March 28, she in Kingston, Jamaica; and he, in Vancouver, British Columbia.