Music industry welcomes JCDC's support of street dances

Music industry players have welcomed the JCDC's decision to endorse all of the island's popular street dances this year.

According to insiders, the support from JCDC is way overdue and more government-affiliated bodies should help to develop the music industry instead of tear it down.

"We think it is a nice move, and it helps the youth and young artistes. One of the festival winners performed at Weddy Weddy and it went well. We are backing JCDC 100 per cent and they are doing some excellent work," said Dwayne Pow of Stone Love.

He is also batting for a reggae/dancehall carnival, citing that Trinidad's government has taken soca under its wings.

"I would encourage more government people to come on board and do things like this because music brings tourists to the island. We just need to push our culture, and create things like a reggae-dancehall carnival. The crime rate a rise, the youth dem need help, give them something to do. Help build the music so more youth can come out of poverty," he said.

Bold move

Resident selector at Uptown Mondayz and Boasy Tuesdays, Boom Boom, also welcomed JCDC's bold move. He says tourists are tired of the sand and sea and are now looking to bask in Jamaica's rich culture.

The selector said the influence of the street dances ought not to be underestimated since they dictate what is hot in Jamaican music outside of commercial radio.

"This is good for dancehall and should have happened a long time. A full time dem understand that a dancehall and reggae, tourists coming to Jamaica for. Uptown Mondayz pull up to 4,000 people each week and 2,500 out of that are tourists. They come in their buses and they are well taken care of by the people, we teach them how to dance and show them the real Jamaica," he said.

Boom Boom also pointed out that artistes like Bounty Killer have managed to keep a strong presence in dancehall due to his support of the weekly street dances.