DIAMOND MEMORY: Flashback to the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) trailblazing 1968 appearance at St. Andrew Scots Kirk United (Church) Easter Recital | Reprinted from NDTC Newsletter IV — 1968
SCOTS KIRK
The Bach piece was one of the NDTC’s offerings in the Company’s history-making participation in the Scots Kirk Easter recital organised and staged jointly by the pastor Alistair MacTavish, Lloyd Hall who conducts the Saint Andrew Singers who sang, and NDTC’s Artistic Director [Rex Nettleford]. It was generally well received. Older Church members were shocked to discover that the dancing in Church was not shocking. And everyone – except for Harry Milner who insists that dancing is an erotic art and therefore has little place in God’s House everyone seemed to agree that it came off as “an act of worship”. Music critic Peter Dawson approved, thought “the Passion” was too complete (as music) to be choreographed to and somehow thought Ramirez’ Misa was not as great (music-wise) as it would lead one to believe at first. He gave the prize of the event to Rev. MacTavish for his courage in re-introducing the art-form (dance i.e.) into the Church. Neville Black’s AVE VERUM danced by Yvonne daCosta and Rex Nettleford received high acclaim and found its way on to a Good Friday JIS feature television programme along with excerpts from MISA CRIOLLA which was also performed at the Kirk with Eddy Thomas in the lead and the women ensemble in stark black leotards and flowing skirts topped with a peasant headtie. Dancers who shared in the unique event were Yvonne daCosta, Gertrude Sherwood, Barbara Requa, Joyce Campbell, Noelle Chutkan, Bridget Casserly, Cheryl Ryman, Carol Miller, Fredericka Byfield, Jackie Guy, Dennis Scott, Eddy Thomas and Rex Nettleford. George Carter did the lights (he had done them for “Murder in the Cathedral” staged in that said Scots Kirk years ago). Baldwin Lennon did the sound. General agreement exists that it “all worked” and some hope that the song-and-dance liturgy will become an annual affair. The St. Andrew Singers, Rev. MacTavish and the NDTC are not ill-attuned to the idea.
Still on the Scots Kirk event
Fuses blew in the middle of proceedings on the second (and last) of the appearances. Sound Director Lennon reported the matter with calm agitation to the AD and the dancers in the Vestry. St. Matthew Passion had to be done to the softest of tones from a near mini 'tape recorder' but no one in the congregation knew the difference until the pastor revealed the difficulties later in the service. By then people like Noelle Chutkan had decided to offer up a prayer to a favourite Saint and as luck would have it, silver paper fetched from Cheryl Ryman’s chocolate bars did the trick. An electrician singer gave back sound to Misa Criolla. The ordeal provided the necessary tension though Lighting Director Carter was as cool as a cucumber. His Fuse didn’t blow that night.
