MARJORIE WHYLIE AND EWAN SIMPSON • Marjorie Whylie, after more than four decades with the NDTC, has retired from her post as Musical Director and Leader of the NDTC Singers. Miss Whylie’s retirement came shortly after a successful tour of England in September 2012. She has since been appointment as Musical Director Emerita and will assist Ewan Simpson to fulfill his recent appointment as Acting Musical Director. CAROLE REID • Carole Reid received the Golden Jubilee Award for Kingston from the Governor General Sir Patrick Allen on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 in a ceremony held at King’s House for her Outstanding Contribution for Cultural Development and Musical Heritage. KERRY‐ANN HENRY, MARLON SIMMS AND MARISA BENAIN • Congratulations to Kerry‐Ann Henry and Marlon Simms for their appointment as Director and Assistant Director, respectively, of the School of Dance at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in April 2012 and to Marisa Benain for obtaining the post of Director – Cultural Policy and Monitoring in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in June 2012. SANDRA MINOTT PHILLIPS, QC • Former principal dancer and attorney‐at‐law Sandra Minott‐Phillips was admitted to practice at the Inner Bar by Chief Justice Zaila McCalla at a ceremony held at the Supreme Court on Tower Street in Kingston on Monday, June 11, 2012. Mrs. Minott‐ Phillips was robed by former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, QC before thanking family, friends and colleagues for their support over the years. NATIONAL DANCE THEATRE COMPANY • The Company was given a special award for the development of dance in Jamaica by Dance Xpressionz at their fifth annual Dancers Boom production held at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre on Saturday April 21, 2012. Marlon Simms was on hand to receive the
plaque on behalf of the Company which preceded Kerry‐Ann Henry’s guest appearance of an excerpt of Clive Thompson’s Phases of the Three Moons. HIGHLIGHTS DIGICEL FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT Digicel Foundation made a courtesy call on the Company a year following their contribution to the project of refurbishing the offices of the NDTC. The Foundation requested a special photo shoot for their annual report (2011‐ 2012 – “Developing Our Nation”). The report featured photographs of dancers and members of the Foundation at the NDTC Studios and of Prof. Nettleford’s work Gerrehbenta shot on the coast of Kingston Harbour with Allatunje Connell, Kerry‐Ann Henry, Mark Phinn, Tamara Noel, Kevin Moore, Keita‐Marie Chamberlain and Marlon Simms. MELANIE GRAHAM • Former principal dancer Melanie Graham returned to the Company as a special 50th Anniversary guest performer to appear in signature roles in The Crossing and Edna M. Her performance received critical acclaim and an extended feature article appeared in the BUZZ Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine, Vol. 5 #4 2012, on her artistry and exemplary contribution to dance and the NDTC.