‘Tis the Season of events at EDNA

April showcase includes dancehall, drama and jazz celebrations

FOR THE month of April, the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) will put on show its rich tradition of producing meaningful events showcasing the excellence in training offered by the institution with eight events from a dancehall musical to music recitals, visual arts exhibition, student dance showcase, and capacity-building workshops.

The schedule began with the April 5 opening of the Owen Ellis-directed School of Drama’s dancehall musical Buss Big and closes with the hosting of its ninth annual UNESCO International Jazz Day showcase. Buss Big runs April 5-7 and 12-14, 7:00 p.m. nightly.

The School of Visual Arts’ Materials and Meanings exhibition opens on April 9; the School of Music Week of Concerts dubbed Purple Reign, closes with the Honours Recital concert on Saturday, April 13, showcasing the top performing students for the 2023-2024 academic year; and the School of Continuing Education and Allied Programmes’ Literature on Stage workshop on Tuesday, April 16, and Wednesday, April 17, and a Saturday Intensive workshop on April 20.

‘Tis the Season season continues with School of Dance, Danceworks, under the theme Luminosity, which runs April 18 to 21, to be followed by the School of Arts Management and Humanities’ Ecojam environmental awareness day on April 22, and culminates with the institution’s jazz celebration concert — Jamrock Jazz at The Summit on April 30.

Speaking on the initiative, Coleen Douglas, director of marketing and communications at the college, said: “This month’s events are strongly focused on self-expression through the kaleidoscope that is Jamaican/ Caribbean culture, with the primary purpose of nurturing a love and passion for theatre and the visual and performing arts. There’s a lot to experience, so we invite everyone to attend.”

The opening event, Buss Big, forges connections across communities, highlights our diverse Jamaican culture, and celebrates the transformative work of Area Youth Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that has been empowering Kingston’s youth since 1997.