Stella Maris Dance Ensemble stages 32nd season this weekend
Published:Saturday | November 22, 2025 | 12:06 AM
The Stella Maris Dance Ensemble will stage its 32nd Season of dance at The Little Theatre this weekend, with two shows: tonight at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. The production features a diverse repertoire celebrating Jamaica’s cultural heritage while addressing contemporary social themes through dance.
The programme includes both new and restaged works by a stellar group of choreographers, including Abeldo Gonzales (Cuba), Tony Wilson, Renee McDonald, Andre Hinds, and Dr MoniKa Lawrence.
Their choreographic creations explore a wide range of urgent and resonant topics: the resilience of black people through the legacy of enslavement; the power of Jamaican poetry to retell our collective history; the global impact of climate change; the complexities of gender relations, and a joyous tribute to Jamaica’s folk traditions and indigenous revival spirituality.
Continuing its longstanding commitment to community outreach, the ensemble hosted a free special matinee performance on Friday, for 500 children from Homes of Safety and inner-city communities in Kingston. Now in its 15th year, this initiative provides young audiences with a meaningful introduction to the performing arts, complete with refreshments and guided engagement activities to deepen their cultural experience.
This year’s season also carries special significance, as it will be presented in memory of Dr Maria Smith, a devoted patron of the performing arts. One of the featured works, African Nite, will be staged as a tribute to her remarkable contributions to the study and preservation of Revival spiritual traditions through her research and publications.
In addition to the performances, Stella Maris Dance Ensemble will be accepting non-perishable items on both performance nights to support victims of hurricane Melissa, reinforcing the ensemble’s enduring belief that the arts can serve as a bridge between creativity, compassion, and community service.
The ensemble’s artistic director, Dr MoniKa Lawrence, has expressed her enthusiasm for this milestone production, noting that “Each year, we strive to use dance as a mirror to society, honouring our past, challenging our present, and inspiring hope for the future.”
This highly anticipated season will be held under the distinguished patronage of minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange.