Dancers Encouraged to Take Part in Competition

Jamaican dancers are being encouraged to participate in the World Reggae Dance Competition.

The competition is organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

It aims to give national and international exposure to talent that exists in Reggae/Roots Dance. Participants compete in the categories of Roots Reggae, Reggae Contemporary/Classic, Reggae Dancehall and Dance Narrative.

Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Stephen Davidson, told JIS News that the first elimination round of the competition will begin on Saturday, June 11 at the Ocean Village Shopping Centre, Ocho Rios, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

He said auditions will continue until the National Finals on August 4, 2016. Persons can visit the JCDC’s website www.jcdc.gov.jm , Facebook page, Twitter account or Instagram for more information.

According to Mr. Davidson, the competition is open to dance groups of three to six persons, who must be 18 years and older.

“We are inviting dance groups from the northern region or from anywhere across the island. You are invited to come out to audition for the competition,” he said.

Mr. Davidson said that cash and prizes valuing over $1 million have been offered by sponsors for winners of the competition.

Additionally, he said that dancers will get the opportunity to attend the JCDC dance workshops and personal-development training “to get them up to a certain level and to make them more marketable on the world stage.”

“Once they have entered our system they become a part of a database of performers that we have developed and we call on them throughout the year, whether local or international, for them to entertain the crowd, so there is that exposure and benefits in addition to the cash and prizes they will win from sponsors,” he added.

The Director said the JCDC is negotiating with international entrants to the competition, which had attracted dancers from the Caribbean, Finland and Japan.

“We have sent out invitations to other countries for them to participate,” he said.