WESTERN BUREAU:After 64 years, the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) will close its celebrated Season of Dance in Montego Bay for the first time, returning to the western Jamaica roots of its co-founder, Professor Ralston ‘Rex’ Nettleford. It is a milestone that stretches far beyond dance. On August 16, the company’s flagship season will make its long-awaited debut at the Iberostar Rose Hall Theatre, bringing one of Jamaica’s most revered cultural institutions to the region that helped shape the visionary whose influence transformed the nation’s artistic landscape. For many Jamaicans, Nettleford’s name is synonymous with The University of the West Indies, scholarship, and the global recognition he brought to Jamaican culture. Yet, as Marlon D. Simms, artistic director of the NDTC, points out, the story began much farther west. Born in Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, Nettleford spent his formative years in western Jamaica, attending Cornwall College in Montego Bay, where he excelled academically, developed as a young performer, and sang in the Anglican church choir. Those early experiences, Simms believes, nurtured the appreciation for Jamaican culture, music, and community that would later define his life’s work. “The seeds of that vision were planted right here in western Jamaica,” Simms said. “Bringing the NDTC’s Season of Dance to Montego Bay, and performing works by Rex Nettleford here, feels like a homecoming. It is our way of honouring where the journey began.” That sense of homecoming is shared by the company itself. “This is one of the most exciting moments in the company’s history,” Simms said. “For 64 years, we’ve called Kingston home, but the truth is, the NDTC belongs to Jamaica. It belongs to every Jamaican. So to be closing the Season of Dance in Montego Bay for the very first time is incredibly special.” He hopes the historic performance marks the beginning of a lasting relationship with audiences across western Jamaica, ensuring that future generations can experience the company’s artistry without making the journey to Kingston. The vision found an enthusiastic partner in First Dance Studios, whose determination to bring the NDTC west emerged from one of the most difficult chapters in its own history. When Hurricane Melissa tore through western Jamaica last year, the studio suffered extensive damage. Its dance floor was destroyed, equipment ruined, and costumes lost. Yet amid the devastation, Chief Executive Officer Jody-Marie Smith said the greatest concern was not the physical losses but the possibility that young dancers and creatives would lose one of the few spaces where they could learn, grow, and belong. “Hurricane Melissa reminded us just how important creative spaces are,” Smith said. “This gala is not simply about recovery. It’s about resilience, preserving opportunity, and ensuring that the arts continue to transform lives.” Rather than rebuilding quietly, First Dance Studios chose to think bigger. Smith, who was introduced to the NDTC by the Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, envisioned bringing the country’s premier dance company to the tourism capital not only to assist with rebuilding efforts but to demonstrate that western Jamaica is capable of hosting cultural productions of the highest calibre. “This is a historic moment for western Jamaica,” she told The Sunday Gleaner. “For the first time in the National Dance Theatre Company’s 64-year history, it is closing its season outside of Kingston, and that sends a powerful message that artistic excellence belongs in every region of Jamaica.” She believes the production also sends an important message to young people throughout the region. “I want every young person in western Jamaica to know that they don’t have to leave home to dream big,” Smith said. “We have extraordinary talent here, and we have a growing creative community that deserves investment and opportunity.” For Simms, the performance itself reflects the richness and diversity of Jamaica’s cultural identity. The programme journeys through the island’s history, spirituality, folk traditions, and contemporary life, honouring the enduring legacy of Rex Nettleford while showcasing a new generation of choreographers whose works speak to today’s Jamaica. Audiences will experience beloved classics rooted in Jamaican folk culture alongside bold contemporary pieces that demonstrate the continuing evolution of the country’s artistic expression. “By the end of the evening, I think audiences will leave with an even greater appreciation of just how rich, diverse, and endlessly creative Jamaican culture really is,” Simms said. He promises an experience that goes well beyond dance. “There are moments that will make you smile, moments that will move you, and moments that may leave you holding your breath,” he said. “The dancers are extraordinary, the singers and musicians perform live throughout the evening, and the costumes and production are absolutely stunning.” The Montego Bay gala has also reignited conversations about the need for a world-class performing arts centre in western Jamaica. Delivering the keynote address at the launch, Christopher Issa, chief executive officer of S Hotels Jamaica, argued that investment in culture should be viewed as an essential part of national development, not a luxury. He said western Jamaica has the talent, audiences, and creative energy to sustain major cultural productions and deserves facilities capable of nurturing future generations of performers. That vision aligns closely with First Dance Studios’ longer-term ambitions. Smith hopes the Montego Bay gala will become an annual fixture on Jamaica’s cultural calendar, attracting audiences from across the island and the diaspora while creating opportunities for dancers, musicians, designers, technicians, and other creative professionals. “Beyond celebrating artistic excellence, we see it as a platform for youth development, cultural tourism, economic growth, and continued investment in the creative sector,” she said. “This year is just the beginning.” If that vision is realised, August 16 will be remembered not simply as the night the National Dance Theatre Company performed in Montego Bay but as the moment western Jamaica embraced a cultural legacy that had, in many ways, been waiting 64 years to come home.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com