Anticipation is high ahead of the upcoming debut season of dance of the award winning Campion

College Dance Troupe.

The group showcased quality performances last year in the Jamaica Cultural Development

Commission’s dance festival competition, entering seven pieces, winning gold for five, and silver for the other two. On the strength of that performance the troupe moved on to the national finals,

copping National Awards for Best Class 4 Praise Dance, Best Class 5 Quartet, along with the

National Award for the Best Class 4 group and the Award for The Most Outstanding Teacher

in Class 4. There are 60 core dancers, 12 of whom were recently selected to be members of the NDTC Trainee Class.

The Campion College troupe is therefore taking the ambitious step of staging its inaugural

season, to run for a full week-end from Friday, March 18 to Sunday, March 20.

“The dancers have demonstrated that they are ready to take the troupe to the next level,” said

Artistic Director and choreographer Dwright Wright.

“They’re talented, dedicated and committed, and I am confident that we’ll be presenting high-

quality performances to the public.”

The name of the Season of Dance is ‘Campana – the Journey continues’. The season is an

extension of Campion College 50th Anniversary celebration. The title ‘Campana’ signifies

a celebration of the school’s successes over the years even while we seek to build on those

successes and move forward.

A wide variety of dances will be on display during CAMPANA. The dances range from Modern

Contemporary to Popular (Dancehall) pieces.

The theme dance is entitled, ‘The journey continues’ and will be performed by the Junior A

troupe. This dance depicts the hardship faced by slaves who were taken from the Motherland to the New World to work. The piece is very evocative and should be a hit when the Season opens.

There will also be Creative folk dances, both Afro-centric and Caribbean Folk forms. The

Popular Dance section will demonstrate the transition of Jamaican dancehall hall music from

the days of dance hall veterans Buju Banton and Shabba Ranks to the current up-and-coming

dancehall artistes. Several Jazz pieces will also be included.

The highlight of the Season, however, will be the dance drama entitled ‘At the Tomb’. The timing

for this piece is significant as the country will be moving into the Easter season. The dance drama

depicts the death of Jesus and His resurrection and promises to be a very spiritual moment.

Artistic Director and choreographer Dwright Wright is working with Derrick McCarthy as Chief

External Choreographer for Campion College. Guest choreographers have also been invited

to mount pieces for the production. They include Marlon Simms-Dance Captain at NDTC and

Lecturer at the Edna Manley School of Dance, Kevin Moore, also a lecturer at Edna Manley,

Kerry Ann Henry, NDTC ballet mistress and lecturer at Edna Manley. Stephanie Thomas, Kamar

Tucker and Benton Morris all from the NDTC, are also guest choreographers.

The shows will be Friday March 18 at 4pm (for secondary and tertiary students only) cost – $500,

Saturday March 19 at 4pm – $500 for students under 12 age, $1000 for adults. Gala Night will

be Saturday March 19 at 8 pm – cost $1500, and Sunday March 20 at 5pm, cost $1000.