CELIA JONES

Celia is one of L’Acadco’s most precious gifts She joined us in 1983 after attending the very first audition at the Philip Sherlock Centre that the company held in Jamaica, after relocating from Miami So, she became a founding member of the Kingston-based chapter of the company She was a gifted dancer and had her debut in the company’s first local performance which was at Zinc Fence in October of 1983 She danced in “SATTA” L’Acadco’s most popular work now considered an iconic piece in Caribbean dance repertoire

Celia was special because in addition to her outstanding dance talent, she was focussed, businesslike and had the respect of her colleague dancers I soon came to depend on her leadership skills and she very naturally evolved into being my right hand - very sensitive, soft-hearted, comedic right hand She was appointed the company’s first dance captain in 1983, holding that position until 1990 and then moved on to be rehearsal director between 1991 and 1995 Celia served as my assistant when we went to the two-week festival in Depford in 1996 and during my six-month stint in England in 1998 She also acted as road manager for our Ghana tour in 1997, I think that is the year, and also at Cervantino Festival in Mexico 1998 when I was unable to go with the company, because I didn’t realise my passport had expired I remember one year the company was represented simultaneously in Paris and Toronto I went to the festival in France with one group and Celia went to a private assignment Canada with the other!

Even after retiring from the L’Acadco, Celia continued to support us as a company and me as a friend and confidante Thank you for four decades of loyalty and dedication