<div id="subtitle">Jamaican scholar Nettleford, founder of national dance company, dies in US at age 76</div><div><p>Jamaican scholar and choreographer Rex Nettleford has died following a heart attack in the United States. He was 76.</p><p>Nettleford died late Tuesday in Washington D.C., where he was attending a fundraiser for the University of the West Indies. He had been hospitalized since suffering a heart attack last week at his hotel room, Jamaican Culture Minister Olivia Grange said.</p><p>Nettleford, a Rhodes scholar, co-founded the National Dance Theater Company a month after Jamaica gained independence from Britain. He led the organization for almost 50 years.</p><p>"Jamaica and the entire world have lost an intellectual and creative genius," Prime Minister Bruce Golding said. "Rex Nettleford was an international icon, a quintessential Caribbean man, the professor, writer, dancer, manager, orator, critic and mentor."</p><p>Nettleford, who was born in rural Trelawny parish in February 1933, long called for positive portrayals of Jamaica's black majority.</p><p>His 1969 book, "Mirror Mirror," examined the status of black Jamaicans nearly 10 years after the island became independent.</p><p>Nettleford was vice chancellor emeritus of the University of the West Indies from 1997 to 2004 and served as cultural adviser to three prime ministers, including Golding.</p><p>Former Jamaica Prime Minister Edward Seaga praised Nettleford's passion for regional art and folklore.</p><p>"He had a willingness to absorb Jamaican culture," Seaga said.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=68384481&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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