First Dance Studios surprised journalist and civic leader Janet Silvera with its inaugural FLAME Award on Sunday, recognizing her decades‑long advocacy for the performing arts in western Jamaica. The honor was bestowed during the National Dance Theatre Company’s 64th Season of Dance Finale in Montego Bay, a milestone evening that also marked the first time the FLAME Award has been presented by the studio.
Founder and artistic director Jody‑Marie Smith stepped onto the stage to hand the gleaming trophy to Silvera, while Sherri Lee Smith read a citation detailing the recipient’s contributions. The citation highlighted Silvera’s pivotal role in securing Montego Bay as the host city for the NDTC finale for the first time, as well as her steadfast support for the vision of a regional Cultural Arts Centre that would serve the western part of the island. The audience responded with a warm ovation, reflecting the high regard in which Silvera is held across the island’s artistic circles.
Silvera responded with heartfelt appreciation, emphasizing the personal meaning of receiving the award from two young women who are actively shaping Montego Bay’s cultural scene. She described the recognition as a deeply humbling moment, noting that the encouragement of emerging leaders is essential to sustaining the artistic vitality of the community.
The FLAME Award—an acronym that celebrates “Friends of the Light and Arts in the Montego Bay Environs”—was introduced by First Dance Studios to spotlight individuals whose dedication has expanded access to dance, music and theatre across the western parishes. By selecting Silvera as its inaugural honoree, the studio underscored the importance of advocacy that bridges media, civic engagement and artistic development.
Silvera’s career, spanning journalism, community organizing and cultural promotion, has consistently foregrounded the value of the performing arts as a catalyst for social cohesion and youth empowerment. Her work has helped attract national touring companies, secure funding for local productions and inspire a new generation of artists. As the NDTC finale concluded—with a vibrant blend of traditional Jamaican choreography and contemporary pieces that drew a packed audience of arts enthusiasts, officials and students—organizers and audience members alike looked forward to the promised regional Cultural Arts Centre, a project that Silvera has long championed and that promises to deepen Montego Bay’s reputation as a hub for Caribbean artistic expression.
