Letting go to Jamaican Dancehall

Dancehall music in Jamaica

Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican music that originated in the late 1970s, increasingly categorised by faster rhythms. In the mid nineteen nineties with rise of Bobo Shanti artists Sizzla and Capelton, dancehall developed a strong connection to Rastafari. Digital instrumentation changed the sound considerably with genres like ragga appearing on the scene.

Jamaican Performing Arts Theatre

Jamaican Performing Arts Theatre promotes the knowledge and appreciation of Jamaica’s art and expressions. Their mission is to create art that reflects the historical experiences and contemporary lives of African Jamaicans. Creating a niche for cross cultural and authentic collaboration to bridge cultural, racial and ethnic boundaries.
Dancing is one of Jamaica’s major sub-cultural exports and has entered a new era of global changes. JPAT wants to take Jamaica’s dance culture to the next level creating a cohesive creative community to strengthen this unique art form. Taking reggae dance to a new level of international recognition and professionalism.
On another level letting go to the rhythm of reggae and dancehall is about connecting to our roots as human beings and joining as one in movement and love to the ancient undercurrents in this powerful genre of music.
The popularity of dancehall has created new dance moves that help to make parties and performances more energetic. Many dance moves seen in hip hop videos are actually variations of dancehall dances.