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Dancehall Dance Association playing its part

Equipping dancers with professional photos

Published:Monday | November 15, 2021 | 12:06 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
Maria Hitchins, president of the Dancehall Dance Association, said booking agents and media houses often request pictures of dancers and sometimes have difficulties finding suitable options.
Maria Hitchins, president of the Dancehall Dance Association, said booking agents and media houses often request pictures of dancers and sometimes have difficulties finding suitable options.
Dancer and choreographer, Kimiko Versatile, shows her versatility.
Dancer and choreographer, Kimiko Versatile, shows her versatility.
Kick out! Shankle Dip demonstrates just how talented and animated he can be.
Kick out! Shankle Dip demonstrates just how talented and animated he can be.
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Following the creation of the Dancehall Dance Association (DDA), core members have made advocating for the rights of street dancers and performers their priority. A recent initiative sees the association working to equip dancers with professional pictures.

Speaking with The Gleaner, Maria Hitchins, president of the DDA shared, “Booking agents and media houses often request pictures of dancers, and many are left scrambling to locate good-quality photos with uncluttered backgrounds.” Following a successful début event last August, funds raised have been specially allocated to providing the gift of a photoshoot to lucky members, for what can be a costly venture.

The package includes a range of photographs. “Each dancer gets 10 high-resolution photos, including the standard headshot and full-body shots of varying profiles, along with ‘action shots’ that showcase the dancer’s personalities and signature dance moves,” said Latonya Style, a core DDA member. These, she says, will be used to build their profiles on the DDA website or be utilised in other capacities.

The collective enlisted the expertise of Foster Shots, a veteran photography team. “Foster Shots offered a package that was quite reasonable. The studio space is centrally located, and the company is known among the dancehall community,” Style added. So far, close to 50 members have given their best shots to the cameras, with no regrets. These members include, but are not limited to, dancers like Kimiko Versatile, Kriptic Klique, Black Dice, Mara, Xqlusiv, Dance Xpressionz, Dansa Bling and Joel. “This benefit is being extended to 70 of our members, and we are also reaching out to veteran dancers, who laid the foundation, as a way to say thank you for your energies and positive contribution,” Hitchins shared.

Core members Mardzz Kriptic Klique and Cojo Hotfoot are happy for the path the DDA is taking in furthering the careers of dancehall dancers. “For me, this shoot says that we are one step closer to the goal of operating as a structured body, to show the outside world that dancing isn’t just a hobby,” Mardzz said.

Cojo Hotfoot chimed in by stating, “The photo shoot is really important, and when we create the identification cards, everyone will know that we’re serious about having Jamaican dancehall dancers unite as one.” The aim is to use the headshots taken from the photo shoots to create identification cards for DDA members. “Many Jamaicans, not just dancers, are still living without any form of photo ID, and there have been occasions where dancers are out late at night, they get stopped by the police and have no form of identifying document to show,” Style said.

The association, according to Hitchins, is working towards solidifying existing relationships with members of the wider entertainment fraternity, like street dance promoters, “Whenever the Government decides to reopen the sector, they can gain discounts to some events.” The group is also planning to finish the official website by year end, complete with members’ profiles. This will give access to those doing research on Jamaican dancehall dancers and facilitate the direct booking of existing members.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com