Each corner of the planet keeps its cultural part and impresses with its versatility. How much exotic you can find by visiting the dance floors of every continent, because dance is the best way to show who you are and express your feelings. How many new dance movements are born on the streets of each city, and one of these is the dancehall style. In music and dance, he is considered a reflection of the culture of Jamaica and its national treasure. Danshall is the heart of Jamaica.
History of occurrence
Danshall is a fashionable musical movement that originated in the 60s of the last century. It was on the streets of Kingston (the capital of Jamaica) that new musical rhythms and movement techniques were created. The reason for the creation of such a fashionable trend was the social stratification of the population of Jamaica: since immigrants from Europe were considered more prosperous and wealthy people, emigrants from Africa, mulattos and mestizos belonged mainly to the poorest strata of society.
Therefore, such class inequality could not but affect the minds of deprived people: for them, dancehall is a way of uniting the African people on foreign territory. It was the
African people who played the greatest role in creating a new trend.
Style in music
This musical style arose on the basis of the then already popular reggae, and Bob Marley became the founder of this trend. Dancehall's music is sometimes mistakenly called reggae, but it differs at a faster pace. The dancehall gained the greatest popularity in the 90s, when music was modified, adding modern arrangements and speeding up the rhythm of the track, the music became more club and more and more often appeared at parties outside the island.
Today, the dancehall has not lost its former popularity: every year more and more artists of this genre appear, and everyone is trying to bring some zest. The most famous DJs are Yellowman and Shabba Ranks, and the most recognizable vocalists today are Major Lazer, Sean Paul and Elephant man.
Dance style
Danshall is a dynamic dance that shows the freedom and emancipation of anyone who performs it. After all, it was the ethnic movements of African immigrants that became the basis for the popular dance.
The technical movements of the hips and buttocks served as a difference from other dance styles, which is why dancehall is often confused with a boot-neck, but in reality the only difference is that the boot-shake specializes in different types of butt shaking.
A cheerful and rhythmic dance develops endurance, flexibility, plasticity and coordination of movements. It is considered not very difficult, but the load is compared with training in the gym or long-distance running. The audience is attracted to this dance because of movements that are erotic in nature.
Mostly girls dance it, but it is often possible to meet fans among the males: through dance young ladies try to develop sexuality and self-confidence. Basically, the dancehall complements the already known styles - hip-hop or house.
In the world of dance
Today, the dancehall has captured the world's dance floors: every street dancer is bound to learn at least a couple of the movements of this clockwork dance. Often, to show their skills and successes, dancehall dancers resort to the so-called battles (battles): each participant seeks to gain the respect and recognition of other dancers, but sometimes young people go to battle to learn new movements, it is also not uncommon that the dancers participate in battles for a cash prize.
Usually at such events they perform in the style of freestyle, that is, they do not use prepared programs. For those who want to achieve world recognition, there are festivals and shows, and to participate, the dancers come together in teams and compete in groups for the title of best. The list of the coolest shows includes World of Dance, Show me what you got and United Dance Open.
Ragga jam and dancehall
Externally, these two styles have no differences, so many beginners confuse them, only experienced dancers know the difference between ragga jam and dancehall. Ragga jam is not a dance, but a fitness program based on dancehall movements. Frenchwoman Ler Cultelmon liked dancing so much that she decided to create her own style: combining movements from dancehall, hip-hop, African dances and adding her French charm. The result was a separate branch of culture that conquered the whole world. So that no one could resell her property, Ler authorized the discovery. Moreover, the well-known company Nike liked the charisma of the girl, so she was offered to become the face of Nike Dance. Now, on behalf of the company, Ler teaches the whole planet to dance.
The girl overcame many difficulties on the way to recognition: according to the young lady, the biggest problem was teaching in Jamaica - the birthplace of this dance. The population complained that before this dancehall could only be performed by indigenous people or black representatives of South America, but when they saw Ler dancing, the indignation immediately disappeared: the girl was called the “white negro”. Every African American wanted to learn how to move like this, arguing that if a white girl could, then anyone would succeed.
Where to learn to dance?
Today there are many dancehall schools, they help to more deeply integrate into the culture. You can contact your local dance studio or school: dancehall is taught in almost every dance studio. Classes in the group perfectly enhance the mood and energize, dancing is available to everyone, but require some physical training. The dancehall dance perfectly brings the body to tone: despite the fact that more elements are involved in all the elements, the torso should work no less. It is especially important to choose the right teacher who will charge you with the “Jamaican mood”.