Dancehall Lifestyle pushes week-long celebration of culture

(From still left) Singer Christopher Martin, previous Dancehall Queen Carlene Smith, govt director at the Jamaica Cultural Progress Commission Lenford Salmon and Roxelle McKenzie, director for Dancehall Life-style, are all smiles throughout the start at the Jamaica Pegasus on Thursday. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

ROXELLE “Glamm” McKenzie, co-director of Dancehall Way of living, explained the implementation of an official Dancehall Week in February 2024 is aimed at rebutting the unfavorable stereotypes related with the style.

“Our organising crew recognised that there are a large amount of detrimental stereotypes surrounding dancehall, and we have folks on board who are a aspect of the dancehall field, so we made the decision to appear ahead to see how we can put it together. We generally listen to about reggae and dancehall but reggae is the extra optimistic facet of it. We want dancehall to be highlighted as a optimistic. We reported: ‘Hey, let us have a 7 days-extended [period] of things to do [and] see if we can get the endorsement of the respective ministries to have this as part of reggae month,” she told the Jamaica Observer at the media start held at Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston in Thursday.

The 7 days which kicks off on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 and will culminate on February 19, 2024, following a week crammed with functions that are becoming endorsed by the Ministry of Society, Gender, Entertainment and Sports activities and the Ministry of Tourism.

“On Tuesday we’ll have Style Roadblock where you costume up in your boujee dancehall have on and you come out…we’ll be on the highway obtaining some pleasurable. On the Wednesday, which is Ash Wednesday, we begin it with Early morning Bliss, which is a crimson and white Valentine’s Day celebration. On the 15th, which is the Thursday, we go away that slot open for promoters — we’re even now inviting promoters to appear on board,” McKenzie explained.

She added, “On Friday we will have our Previous College Graduation — uniform model — and then on the Saturday we amazing things down a little bit just before our avenue parade [on Sunday] with our Dancehall Audio Clash. Sunday is our key occasion with our avenue parade where by[in] our costumes from regional designers will be on the road…On the Monday we entirely great matters down with our Yacht Chill, and we go all the way out to Maiden Cay.”

The co-director further explained that there is a very clear blueprint for the 7 days of celebrations, with aid from the various stakeholders.

“The initially point you will need is guidance from the respective ministries, organizations, the police, the enjoyment human body, and the dancehall fraternity. Don’t forget, way too, the folks from the dancehall field, the detrimental stigma follows them and we don’t want that anymore,” she claimed.

Meanwhile, executive director for Jamaica Cultural Advancement Commission (JCDC) Lenford Salmon highlighted that the leisure market really should be supplied extra credit score.

“Men and women arrive [to] Sting, individuals come [to] Reggae Sumfest and it’s branded as tourism…but it really is entertainment tourism. Men and women arrive to Exam cricket and CPL at Sabina Park and what it gets branded as? Tourism! But it’s sporting activities tourism. The contribution, nevertheless not captured in figures all the time, is suitable there and is indeniable,” he told journalists at Thursday’s start.

“We think that this is yet another good addition — Dancehall 7 days, which will begin in 2024. So, from the JCDC, from the Ministry of Society, Gender, Leisure and Activity, it has our whole endorsement.”

Segment of the audienceGarfield Robinson

Very little Richie stored the vitality higher.Garfield Robinson