Edna Manley College Visual and Performing Arts

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From Silence to Centre Stage: EDNA Alum Damany Hughes Makes NDTC History as First D/deaf Dancer

From Silence to Centre Stage: EDNA alum Damany Hughes Makes NDTC History as First D/deaf Dancer From Silence to Centre Stage: EDNA alum Damany Hughes Makes NDTC History as First D/deaf Dancer When Damany Hughes dances, you don’t just see the movement—you feel it. The 2025 graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) has made history as the first D/deaf performer to join Jamaica’s National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) in its 63-year legacy. His debut marks not only a personal triumph but a powerful step towards inclusivity in the Caribbean’s performing arts sector.  But long before the spotlight, the national stage, and the standing ovations, Damany was a young boy learning the world his own way—through vibration, energy, and silence. Discovering Dance Without Sound – 0588 Growing up hard-of-hearing, Damany didn’t experience rhythm through melody or lyrics. Instead, he felt it. “I would watch dancers in silence and feel everything they were expressing. That’s when I realised dance isn’t just about music—it’s about connection, expression, and freedom. They inspired me to believe dance could belong to me, too,” he recalls. For Damany, dance, much like sign language, became a powerful form of non-verbal storytelling. It allowed him to communicate emotions and ideas beyond words, using his body as the ultimate translator. “Dance is my expression of art. It is how I am able to express myself. I had to find ways to adapt, to feel the music in my bones, read subtle visual cues, and trust my body’s internal rhythm. That pushed me to explore movement in deeper, more emotional ways.” Facing His Fears – Image 1413 Damany’s path to professional dance was far from typical. He attended the Lister Mair/Gilby High School for the Deaf, where his passion for performance was nurtured. Supported by his principal, he applied to EMCVPA’s School of Dance—becoming one of the first D/deaf students to join its degree programme. What followed was four years of rigorous technical training, personal breakthroughs, and emotional resilience. “I came in with fears of not fitting in, being misunderstood, of struggling in a space built around sound, but EDNA taught me that art is about expression, not perfection.” Rather than being limited by his hearing difference, Damany developed alternative ways of learning choreography—relying on visual cues, muscle memory, and internal rhythm to create powerful performances. “It’s a different way of dancing, but it’s just as powerful—sometimes even more—because I dance with my whole being,” he explains. A Dream Realised – 1546 In July 2025, Damany made his official debut with the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) in their 63rd season, fulfilling a long-held dream and making national history in the process. “I dreamt of dancing with the NDTC. Getting into EDNA was the first step. I remember really struggling with ballet in the beginning to grasp it, but regardless of the challenges, I have continued to push through to realise my goals… and to now perform with Jamaica’s leading dance company… it’s such a remarkable thing, especially being the first D/deaf person to do so.” This achievement reflects not only Damany’s talent and determination but also the EMCVPA’s commitment to inclusive arts education, creating opportunities for differently abled students to thrive in professional spaces. His former Dean and NDTC’s Artistic Director, Marlon Simms, has been one of his biggest champions, crediting Damany’s success to both his raw talent and the School of Dance’s inclusive teaching model.  “I have learned much more from Damany than he has learned from us over the years. It’s so nice to see how much he has grown, how open and welcoming the school has been to someone with his challenges, and how differently they learn. That has been a part of our development process as faculty members.” Breaking Barriers for Future Creatives – 0675 Now a professional performer, Damany encourages other D/deaf persons and creatives with disabilities to pursue their passions, even when the path seems unclear. “To every young or differently abled artist out there who feels like the arts world wasn’t made for you, I want you to know this, the arts world needs you. You belong in every studio, on every stage, in every gallery. Your perspective, your story, and your way of expressing it are not only valid, they are vital. If you are interested [as a D/deaf dancer], you can find support to be included. Surround yourself with people who see your worth. Keep learning, keep expressing, and never let anyone define your limits.” Be Unapologetically You –  Image – Damany-Hughes headshot For young artists coming up behind him, Damany leaves this message: “You’re not just creating art, you’re creating change.  The beauty of art is that it grows and evolves when people who are different step in and challenge the norm. Your differences are not a weakness; they are your strength, your originality, your power.  Yes, the journey will be harder. You may have to fight to be seen or understood. You may even have to carve your own path where one doesn’t exist… but every step you take makes it easier for the next person like you. So be unapologetically you. That’s where the magic lives.” A New Chapter for Jamaican Dance – Image 0690 Damany Hughes isn’t just a dancer, he represents endless possibilities for Jamaica’s creative industries to embrace a more inclusive future. His story sends a strong message about the need for accessible training opportunities, adaptive teaching methods and open-mindedness in the performing arts sector. It is also a testament to the power of inclusive arts education at EMCVPA.   As he takes his place on one of Jamaica’s most prestigious stages, Damany says simply: “My journey with dance has only just begun.”  With grace, grit, and guts, Damany is shifting narratives in Jamaican dance, proving that inclusion doesn’t dilute artistry—it deepens it. Congratulations, Damany! #EDNAnation couldn’t be prouder. ### If you’re having trouble with the embed links, try these instead:  Video 1 https://youtu.be/SFFOZO93i1s Video 2  https://youtu.be/3de1_lv8wjE

Celebrating Excellence: EMCVPA Lecturers Win Big at the 2025 Actor Boy Awards

Celebrating Excellence: EMCVPA Lecturers Win Big at the 2025 Actor Boy Awards Celebrating Excellence: EMCVPA Lecturers Win Big at the 2025 Actor Boy Awards The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts proudly celebrates theoutstanding achievements of two of our very own — Paul Newman and Owen “Blakka”Ellis — who were honoured at the 2025 Actor Boy Awards for their exemplarycontributions to Jamaican theatre. Paul Newman, a lecturer in the School of Dance, took home the award for Best Choreography for Pull Up: Jamaica Land We Love — produced by DMH Productions. Known for his bold artistic vision and tireless commitment to excellence, Paul’s choreography pushed both creative and physical boundaries. His ability to inspire performers, even those new to movement, has become one of his most celebrated strengths. The recognition comes as no surprise to those who have worked with him. As shared by DMH Productions on social media: “Paul’s relentless drive to push boundaries and create magic on stage has truly set him apart… turning every movement into a masterpiece.” This marks his second Actor Boy Award win — a testament to his consistency, influence, and mastery of the stage. Meanwhile, on the School of Drama side, celebrated actor/comedian, director, writerand lecturer Owen “Blakka” Ellis led the musical Buss Big to a Best Musical win at this year’s ceremony, tying with JMTC’s Aladdin. The production, a dynamic exploration of dancehall, culture, and ambition, was met with thunderous applause during its run — affirming Blakka’s sharp storytelling and musical direction. The award follows on the heels of Tick Tock, another powerful School of Drama stage work co-created with fellow lecturer Camille Quamina, which has continued to generate buzz long after closing, tackling themes of gender, power, and identity with honesty and edge. From Buss Big to Tick Tock, his work continues to stir critical conversations — a reflection of both his artistry and his enduring commitment to social commentary through performance. These wins shine a spotlight not only on two stellar creatives, but on the calibre of mentorship and artistic leadership alive at here EMCVPA. We salute Paul Newman and Owen “Blakka” Ellis for continuing to uplift, inspire, and expand the boundaries of Jamaican theatre — on our stages and far beyond. Powerful Scenes from the School of Drama play, ‘Buss Big’ a dancehall musicaland recipient of the ‘Best Musical’ Actor Boy Award this year.

Matthew McCarthy to Design Mural at Norman Manley International Airport

Matthew McCarthy to Design Mural at Norman Manley International Airport Matthew McCarthy to Design Mural at Norman Manley International Airport We are thrilled to celebrate the latest achievement of visual artist and Edna Manley College SVA alumnus, Matthew McCarthy, who has been selected to design a bold new mural for the iconic roundabout letters at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA). This exciting project is a partnership between Kingston Creative and PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL), operators of NMIA, and invites a uniquely Jamaican perspective to greet travellers as they arrive on the island—it’s especially symbolic as the airport is currently undergoing a five-year development initiative to position it as a first-rate point of travel globally. Out of numerous submissions, Matthew’s concept stood out — a testament to his consistent creative vision and dynamic visual language. Known on Instagram as @eyedealistworldwide, Matthew has been prolific since his days as a student at the College, using art as a vehicle for social commentary, cultural celebration, and visual storytelling through graffiti work around the city of Kingston. This selection comes as no surprise. His work continues to impact public spaces across Jamaica and has also gained recognition internationally. We’re proud to see one of our own transforming the gateway to Kingston with his distinct artistic voice. Congratulations, Matthew — your creativity continues to make a powerful mark on Jamaica’s visual landscape!

ICT Moodle Tutorial Series

ICT Moodle Tutorial Series How to: Find Your Courses Welcome to the series where we help you navigate EMCVPA’s Online Learning Management System. In this lesson, we go over as students how to find your courses that are being pursued at any given semester.   Step 1.  Once logged-in to the Moodle platform, within the top menu, click the button that says “My Courses”.   Step 2.  Once step 1 is completed, will then be brought to the following screen: That’s it.  You have successfully found where your courses reside.  All the best and may good grades follow you. Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q) Why don’t I see all my courses? Courses may not appear for the following reasons: Lecturer has not added you to the course on Moodle as yet and as such, request needs to be made to them in order to have you added to the course.  If lecturer is unable to do so, kindly request that they send a ticket request via helpdesk.emc.edu.jm As a student, you may not have been fully registered as yet. The “Course Overview” filter may be set to “In Progress”, instead of “All” as seen in Step 2’s image above. A course may have accidentally found it self in the “remove from view” filter option of the “Course Overview” I am having a different issue. For any other issue, simply visit the ICT department or send a ticket via the Helpdesk at https://helpdesk.emc.edu.jm Courses may not appear for the following reasons: Lecturer has not added you to the course on Moodle as yet and as such, request needs to be made to them in order to have you added to the course.  If lecturer is unable to do so, kindly request that they send a ticket request via helpdesk.emc.edu.jm As a student, you may not have been fully registered as yet. The “Course Overview” filter may be set to “In Progress”, instead of “All” as seen in Step 2’s image above. A course may have accidentally found it self in the “remove from view” filter option of the “Course Overview” For any other issue, simply visit the ICT department or send a ticket via the Helpdesk at https://helpdesk.emc.edu.jm

ICT Moodle Tutorial Series

ICT Moodle Tutorial Series How to Upload Your Assignments Welcome to the series where we help you navigate EMCVPA’s Online Learning Management System. In this lesson, we go over as students how to upload our assignments that we will have to do from time to time. Step 1.  Once inside the assignment click on the button that says “Add Submission” Step 2.  To the right of the words “File submissions”, click the first icon that looks like a piece of paper.   It should be the first of 3 icons beside each other. Step 3.  Find your file by clicking on the button that says “Choose File”. Once file is found click on “Upload this file” Step 4.  Click on button that says “Save changes” That’s it.  You have successfully uploaded your assignment.  All the best and may good grades follow you.

Nevrona Campbell Helps Buff Bay High Take Silver in Regional Lifestyle Competition

Nevrona Campbell Helps Buff Bay High Take Silver in Regional Lifestyle Competition Nevrona Campbell Helps Buff Bay High Take Silver in Regional Lifestyle Competition We are proud to highlight the inspiring work of Nevrona Campbell, a graduate of the School of Drama who is now serving as the Drama Teacher at Buff Bay High School, Ms Campbell recently played a key role in her school’s outstanding performance at the North-East Regional Health Authority’s Regional Healthy Lifestyle Competition, held on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Under the guidance of a dedicated team of educators — including Ms Campbell — Buff Bay High’s Theatre Arts Collective secured an impressive 2nd Place finish, earning a Silver Medal and Trophy across Regions 1, 2, and 3. Since joining the school, Ms Campbell has made a significant impact on its cultural landscape, with many praising the waves she’s already making. The group’s achievement stands as a testament to thepower of creative education and the value of strong mentorship. We salute Nevrona Campbell for her continued commitment to youth development and the performing arts. Her success reminds us that the legacy of Edna Manley College (and the School of Drama) lives on in classrooms and communities across Jamaica.  Congratulations, Nevrona — your alma mater is very proud!

Vanessa D Riley Brings Hand-Painted Artistry to Tesla’s Cybertruck

Vanessa D Riley Brings Hand-Painted Artistry to Tesla’s Cybertruck Vanessa D Riley Brings Hand-Painted Artistry to Tesla’s Cybertruck From the studios of the School of Visual Arts to the sleek panels of one of the world’s most talked-about vehicles — former student Vanessa D. Riley (aka @painted.lady._) of Painted Lady Studios is turning heads with her stunning hand-painted design for the Tesla Cybertruck, commissioned for a client by Auto Paddock dealership.Vanessa’s artwork brings a refreshing touch of human creativity and precision to the futuristic frame of the Cybertruck, using paint and Sharpie markers to bring her hand-drawn, digitised design to life. Shared by @autopaddock and celebrated across social media, the piece showcases her whimsical, colourful styling and meticulous technique — a striking fusion of fine art and industrial design which she executed with the help ofher team. Check it out in the video below.Though details of upcoming projects remain under wraps, this is clearly just one of many exciting collaborations to come from this spectacular visual artist. Her work continues to redefine how and where art can live — and we definitely love it. Congratulations, Vanessa — we can’t wait to see what you create next!

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