NDTC opens 64th Season of Dance - Pays tribute to Marjorie Whylie, Jimmy Cliff

The National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) will open its 64th Season of Dance on Friday, July 17, with a special tribute benefit performance honouring Musical Director Emerita Marjorie Whylie, whose musicianship, scholarship and artistic vision have shaped the sound and identity of the company for more than four decades.
As a pianist, composer, arranger, educator and musical director, Whylie helped define the musical language of the NDTC through original compositions and distinctive arrangements rooted in Jamaican traditional music. Her creative partnership with the company’s co-founder and former artistic director, Rex Nettleford, produced many of the company’s most celebrated works and remains one of the defining artistic collaborations in Jamaican cultural history.
Fittingly, opening night will feature the return of Gerrehbenta, one of the company’s signature works. Choreographed by Nettleford in 1983 with its vibrant traditional folk music arranged by Whylie, the work continues to stand as a landmark of Jamaican dance theatre.
The evening will also honour the legacy of Jimmy Cliff through the return of Tribute to Cliff, choreographed by Nettleford in 1974. Restaged following Cliff’s passing in November 2025, the work reflects the profound influence his music has had on generations of Jamaican artistes and on the NDTC’s own artistic development.
Cliff’s connection with the company extends beyond Tribute to Cliff. His music later inspired Cave’s End, choreographed by Nettleford in 2002, while in 2023 the NDTC Singers premiered the Jimmy Cliff Tribute suite, a dynamic arrangement of his songs by Musical Director Dr Kathy Brown. Together, these works reflect the enduring dialogue between Cliff’s music and the company’s repertoire.
The season’s theme, ‘Rooted. Grounded. Rising.’, speaks to the NDTC’s continuing commitment to preserving Jamaica’s cultural heritage while embracing the artistes and ideas that carry it forward. Reflecting the company’s ‘Coming Home’ focus, the repertoire also welcomes back acclaimed Jamaican choreographer David Brown, who returns from overseas with Labess. Also on the programme are As (2019) by Renée I. McDonald, presented for the first time with an expanded cast that includes male dancers; Ascending (2023) by Crystal Frazier; Bloom: On Earth As It Is In Heaven (2025) by Avery Walker; the return of the NDTC Singers in Play Time, arranged by former musical director Ewan Simpson; and Unscathed (2015), choreographed by Troy Powell.
Artistic Director Marlon D. Simms said the season reflects the company’s responsibility to preserve the work of the artistes who built its foundation while ensuring that their legacy continues to inspire new generations. “The company is deeply grateful for the extraordinary contributions of Marjorie Whylie and Jimmy Cliff. Their work has enriched Jamaica’s cultural landscape and continues to shape who we are as an organisation. We have a responsibility to ensure that these legacies endure. None of our current company members was even born when Tribute to Cliff was choreographed, yet they now have the privilege of performing it for a new generation. The same is true of Gerrehbenta. These are works that deserve to be lived, shared and celebrated for many years to come.”
The NDTC’s 64th Season of Dance runs until Sunday, August 9, at the Little Theatre. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. A special children’s performance will be presented on Emancipation Day, Saturday, August 1, at 2 p.m.
entertainment@gleanerjm.com