Eager for more

Montego Bay's Iberostar Rose Hall Resort buzzed with energy Sunday evening as the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) delivered a sold-out performance, concluding its annual season in the city for the first time in its 64-year history. The enthusiastic audience responded with a standing ovation, signaling a strong appetite for cultural events in Jamaica's second city.

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We're happy to welcome the NDTC [to] the city of Montego Bay and I trust that this will not be, in the future, for the sake of Melissa, but for the sake of culture… this is real, sustainable and something we can look forward to.

The evening was a testament to the NDTC's artistic prowess, with dancers executing intricate choreography that captivated the attendees. The performance not only showcased the company's talent but also served a dual purpose: to support the First Dance Studios, a local troupe recovering from Hurricane Melissa's impact last October, and to realize Artistic Director Marlon D Simms' aspiration of bringing the season finale to St. James.

Mayor Richard Vernon expressed his pleasure in hosting the NDTC, emphasizing the desire for such cultural events to become a sustainable fixture in Montego Bay, extending beyond the immediate need to assist Melissa's recovery. "This is real, sustainable and something we can look forward to," he stated.

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We have to work hard; Montego Bay is better than its reputation. We are not just about sun, sea, and sand. This is a place now that has a very solid demand for cultural entertainment more than reggae, and we need to make sure that we get our fair share.

Josef Forstmayr, hotelier and Chairman of the Montego Bay Arts Council, echoed the sentiment, highlighting Montego Bay's potential as a hub for cultural entertainment beyond its traditional tourism appeal. "We are not just about sun, sea, and sand. This is a place now that has a very solid demand for cultural entertainment more than reggae, and we need to make sure that we get our fair share," he remarked. He further stressed the need for a proper theatre venue to accommodate such events, noting the "fantastic turnout" and "energy" of the evening as proof of the city's readiness and desire for more. Describing the performance, which included Rex Nettleford's "Many Rivers to Cross," Forstmayr called it a "once-in-a-lifetime experience, it's spectacular, it's just amazing, I'm over the moon."

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You can see the turnout; it's a fantastic turnout. There is an energy here. It makes you proud and then to see world-famous choreography, Many Rivers to Cross by [Rex] Nettleford, I mean, performed exquisitely by the elite dancers, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it's spectacular, it's just amazing, I'm over the moon.