It's All About Dancing: A Jamaican Dance-U-Mentary is a 2006 Jamaican documentary film about dancehall culture. It includes instructional segments about several dance moves that were popular at the time, such as the "Air Force One" or the "Gorilla Warfare". [1]
The film features several dancehall selectors, DJs and dancers, almost all of whom are native to Jamaica; including Ding Dong, the host of the film, Beenie Man, Elephant Man, T.O.K., Mr. Vegas, Voicemail, Macka Diamond, Tanto Metro & Devonte, Tony Matterhorn, Scatta, Richie Feelings, Bogle, John Hype, Ice, Sadiqy & G-Unit, Latisha and Kiyo (dancehall queens). They describe the style, history, language and their personal definitions of dancehall culture, through interviews and monologues inter-spliced with improvisational dance sequences.
It's All About Dancing was screened at Soho House New York, in New York City on May 19, 2006.[ citation needed ]
The DVD was released internationally through Rykodisc International in Japan on January 14, 2006, and in the United States on January 31, 2006.
Touch Magazine gave it a five star review, claiming that "The footage from Passa Passa in Tivoli Gardens in Kingston is pretty mental!...this is an interesting documentary with a useful instructional section."
The Voice called It's All About Dancing a "Professional, high quality DVD that offers a thorough insight into the world of Jamaican dances."
John Masouri of Echoes (UK) wrote that "The director doesn't put a foot wrong throughout...It's All About Dancing has plenty to offer dancehall aficionados in general, and not just the fleet-footed among us."
Air Jamaica's in-flight magazine Sky Writings called it a "Vibrant and beautifully executed 'dance-u-mentary'...which shines a spotlight on current Jamaican dance crazes."
Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times observed that the DVD "clearly was made with outsiders and newcomers in mind", and that it showed that "Ding Dong is a likable star, even though he'll probably never be a nimble lyricist. [...] But in America, where rapid-fire reggae lyrics are often considered an obstacle to success, that may mean he is more marketable than many established reggae stars; no doubt some record executive is hatching a plot right now." [1]
The following tracks appear in the movie, in order of appearance:
Rodney Basil Price OD(born 12 June 1972), known as Bounty Killer, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. AllMusic describes him as "one of the most aggressive dancehall stars of the '90s, a street-tough rude boy with an unrepentant flair for gun talk". He is considered one of the best dancehall lyricists of all time.
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably, with digital dancehall becoming increasingly characterized by faster rhythms. Key elements of dancehall music include its extensive use of Jamaican Patois rather than Jamaican standard English and a focus on the track instrumentals.
Reggae Sumfest is the largest music festival in Jamaica and the Caribbean, taking place each year in mid-July in Montego Bay. Sumfest started in 1993.
Greensleeves Records & Publishing, shortened to Greensleeves Records, is a record label specializing in dancehall and reggae music. The company was founded by Chris Cracknell and Chris Sedgwick. Based in Britain, Greensleeves Records started as a small record store in West Ealing, London, in November 1975. The record label was founded in 1977, with early releases including albums by Augustus Pablo and Barrington Levy.
Passa Passa is a weekly street party that originated in Kingston, Jamaica and has spread to other areas in the Caribbean. It is reported to have begun on Ash Wednesday in 2003 with the name being coined by Carl Shelley. It features dancehall music. It has spread throughout the Caribbean including Colón, Panama Limón, Costa Rica and later Puerto Rico. It is similar to a block party. The Passa Passa usually gets started around 1 a.m. and has been known to continue straight through until 8 a.m.
Stop Murder Music is a campaign to oppose Caribbean artists who produce music with lyrics alleged to glorify murder of homosexual men. The campaign was mainly against Jamaican musicians, primarily dancehall and reggae artists such as Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, and the Bobo Ashanti Rastafarians Sizzla and Capleton.
Reggae fusion is a fusion genre of reggae that mixes reggae and/or dancehall with other genres, such as pop, rock, hip-hop/rap, R&B, jazz, funk, soul, disco, electronic, and Latin music, amongst others.
Gerald Levy, better known as Bogle and also as Bogle Dancer, Mr Bogle, Father Bogle and Mr Wacky, was a Jamaican dancehall dancer and choreographer. Beenie Man called Bogle "the greatest dancer of all time" and he is recognised as "part of the foundation and as an icon inside of dancehall culture." Bogle created more dancehall moves than any other figure; he is best known for creating the Bogle dance which is named after him. His stage name, Bogle, is a reference to Paul Bogle a National Hero of Jamaica.
Jeanette-Triniti Marilyn Bhaguandas, better known by her stage name Ms. Triniti, is a Soca - Ragga - fusion singer-songwriter who mixes the Soca, dancehall, reggae and pop genres.
Craig Serani Marsh, known professionally as Serani, is a Jamaican singer who has a joint venture deal with Phase One Communications in New York City. He is best known for his involvement in Sean Paul's album The Trinity and his 2008 single "No Games".
Collin Demar Edwards, better known by his stage name Demarco, is a Jamaican dancehall and reggae recording artist.
The Bogle is a dance move originating from Kingston, Jamaica. The dance gets its name from a dancer named Bogle who danced as part of Kingston's Black Roses crew, who was in turn inspired by Barrington Levy.
Adidja Azim Palmer, better known as Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay. Among his various nicknames, he is referred to as Worl' Boss or Teacha. As summarized by Rolling Stone, he "attained folk-hero status in Jamaica with provocative lyrics, and a mischievous public persona", and "few have captivated [the dancehall] audience – or offended the sensibilities of its detractors – as consistently and thoroughly as Kartel."
Strictly the Best vol. 47 is a compilation dancehall album from VP Records. It is released on December 4, 2012, along with Strictly The Best vol. 46. Strictly The Best (STB) is one of the longest compilation series in reggae music and the music business. The series was launched in 1991. Every Year, VP Records releases two STB series, one for Reggae and another one for Dancehall, a series highlighting the biggest hits and the artists in reggae & dancehall of the year from new artists to top stars. In contrast with a reggae compilation album STB vol. 46, STB vol. 47 features dancehall and hard-core party tunes. Also like STB vol. 46, STB vol. 47 is a double disc CD. Disc one includes current hits from Popcaan, I-Octane, Mr. Vegas, RDX, Konshens, Vybz Kartel, Cherine Anderson with DI, Sean Paul with Kelly Rowland, Tommy Lee Sparta, Aidonia, and Bounty Killer. Disc two is a set of classic dancehall hits that are still favored in current dance scene. Featured artists from disc two are: Ini Kamoze, Nardo Ranks, Gregory Peck, Red Fox & Naturalee, Beenie Man, Tony Curtis, Tanya Stephens, Captain Barkey, Fabby Dolly, Ding Dong, Bounty Killer, Capleton. The CD cover was designed and created by Clovis Brown.
21st Hapilos Digital Distribution is a dancehall and reggae online distribution company based in Manhattan, New York, with offices in Kingston, Jamaica. The company was founded in 2009 and has distributed music for Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Konshens, Sizzla, Beenie Man, Rvssian, Sean Paul, and Popcaan, among others. Every year the company hosts a Digital Awards that recognizes Top Video, Top Selling Single, Top Riddims, Top Reggae Singles, producers and more. The winners for the Digital Awards are selected from raw sales data. In 2017, 21st Hapilos Digital launched the 21st Hapilos Top 10 Digital Chart based on digital sales
Mixpak Records is a Brooklyn-based independent record label, founded in 2009 by record producer Dre Skull. The label operates across a range of genres, from dancehall to underground club music, experimental electronic, rap and leftfield pop. Mixpak has released music by Vybz Kartel, Popcaan, Palmistry, Murlo, and Jubilee, among others.
Arif Cooper was a Jamaican musician, music producer, and international DJ. He was the CEO of Fresh Ear Productions/AMC Music Ltd., as well as a radio broadcaster for the RJR Communications Group.
Grace Latoya Hamilton, known professionally as Spice, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay, singer, and songwriter. Known as the "Queen of Dancehall", Spice is recognised as one of the most prominent dancehall artists in the world. She is known for her aggressive flow, musical versatility and outspoken lyrics. Spice first gained recognition after performing at the annual dancehall festival Sting in 2000. She released her first single "Complain" for record producer Dave Kelly's Madhouse Records in 2003. She continued to release the singles "Right There" and "Hype", even being featured on songs with Jimmy Cliff and Beenie Man in 2004 and 2006, respectively.
Kemar Christopher "Ding Dong" Dwaine Ottey is a dancehall reggae musician and dancer. He was a dancer before becoming a deejay and dancehall recording artist. His most notable songs "Bad Man Forward / Bad Man Pull Up" (2005), "Fling" and "Genna Bounce" released in 2017 has assisted in his global appeal. He founded the dancing syndicate Ravers Clavers.
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