NEW HAVEN, CT: THE NATIONAL Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) of Jamaica will stage two performances at the Shubert Theatre in Connecticut, USA for the first time since 2004 at the theatre’s International Festival of Arts and Ideas in June. Described as one the most innovative dance companies to have achieved world acclaim in the last half century, the NDTC blends the lore, music and dance traditions of Jamaica, Africa and the American South with both modern and classical ballet forms, dance performances, training and engagement programmes for all people. For Anthony McDonald, Shubert Theatre’s executive director, and a first-generation Jamaican-American, bringing the NDTC to New Haven is relevant. McDonald said, “Shubert Theatre is celebrated for presenting first-rate theatre, but its history includes a more wide-ranging story where renowned dancers and dance companies performed on the legendary Shubert stage.” He added, “Connecticut is home to the fifth largest population of Jamaican ancestry in the US and I am delighted to bring this company to our stage to share their performance and the rich culture of Jamaica with our patrons.” Shelley Quiala is the executive director for international festival of arts and ideas. She said, “Connecticut is a global epicentre for performing arts, and New Haven, particularly, is the perfect location to celebrate this extraordinary international company. We are delighted to join our colleagues at the Shubert in hosting NDTC in the state’s unofficial cultural capital.” The NDTC was co-founded by Rex Nettleford and Eddy Thomas in 1962 when Jamaica gained Independence after 468 years under Spanish and then British rule. Founded as a way to celebrate the island’s culture and the beginnings of Jamaica’s own government, the company is made up of dancers, singers, and musicians, and has a wide-ranging repertoire; some of the dances are dramas and tell a story, some are staged rituals showing religious ceremonies, some are pantomimes and other dances are just to enjoy. Since its formation, the company has achieved a reputation for artistic excellence, developing much of its repertoire from authentic folk material, and they have achieved national prominence and international acclaim. NDTC will perform on June 2 and 3 with performances at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. The event is sponsored by Liberty Bank, and the International Association of New Haven. Tickets can be purchased online and costs US $29 – $59 at shubert.com, by phone at 203-5625666, and at the Shubert’s Box Office located at 247 College Street in downtown New Haven. 9 Aubrey Campbell/Gleaner Writer CHARLOTTE, NC: ROHAN CLARKE is on a mission to share his spirituality through music with those who will listen at home and here in the diaspora. He gained national recognition in 2004, when his entry Satan’s Kingdom, was adjudged the second best rendition in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) National Gospel Song Competition. He would win the national gospel song competition in 2008, with the judges’ favourite, By Faith. “My talent to sing and perform were honed in the Church of God, where I sang on choirs and preached the word of God. These two seeds have become the fruit, style, and philosophy reflected in my albums,” he shared. The album‘Happy Paradise’, Clarke’s third and latest project, was released by VP Records Distributors of NewYork City last week and features the lead track Thick andThin, a real reggae track with lyrics to inspire. ‘No, I’m not walking around with no stress because I know I’m blessed. Praise to the King, through thick and thin.’ Now residing in the USA, Clarke is busy setting up his KingdomMusic ministry, which he says is essential for listeners to maintain their spiritual integrity as they navigate a world of uncertainty. “I have been blessed to have a laser focus on music with quality, combined with a strong spiritual background that is reflected in the music my team and I create.” For now, the team includes his wife and first love, children, extended family, church family, fans, musicians, engineers, and well-wishers, who he says ‘are all elated for the new partnership with VP Records’. “The message of the Kingdom is in the music and our desire is to evangelise and bless souls all over the world.” HAPPY PARADISE: New Reggae Gospel from VP Records distributors NDTC to perform at Shubert Theatre in June Dance company to stage first performance since 2004 Rohan Clarke. CONTRIBUTED THE WEEKLY GLEANER | MAY 4 - JUNE 7, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
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