Dancehall Dance Association Objects To Non-Nationals Teaching Dancehall In Jamaica
Jamaica’s Dancehall Dance Association (DDA) has taken umbrage to non-Jamaicans conducting Dancehall lectures and dance moves classes in exchange for cash on Jamaican soil, to tourists who travel to the island unwittingly believing they are paying for the authentic stuff.
The 200-member DDA, which is a global organization representing Jamaican Dancehall dancers, teachers, choreographers, lecturers, advocates, ambassadors and their related content and products including classes, tours, workshops, seminars and performances, issued a notice about the matter, via its social media pages a few days ago.
It noted that the practice of non-Jamaicans teaching Dancehall dancing is not only prohibited, but is infringing on, and expropriating Jamaican’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, as well as taking away well-needed earnings from Jamaican nationals.
“The Dancehall Dance Association (DDA) hereby explicitly states that NO NON-JAMAICAN is permitted to teach Dancehall classes or conduct Dancehall lectures in Jamaica,” the notice read.
“To do so goes against the respect for and preservation of Dancehall Culture, and undermines the welfare and livelihood of Jamaican Dancehall Dancers and Teachers. As originators and creators, we have a duty to protect the cultural authenticity of Dancehall Dance in its home, and secure the jobs of these Jamaican originators/creators/citizens,” the group added.
In furtherance of their opposition to cultural appropriation, the DDA urged visitors to the country to “come to Jamaica and learn from a Jamaican”.
“We consider the teaching of Dancehall Dance in Jamaica, by a non-Jamaican, to be an offensive act that strikes at the heart of our culture and identity. The DDA and all its members stand together and will challenge anyone whose actions contravene the welfare of all Jamaican dancers,” the organisation stated.
The concerns of the DDA has attracted the attention of the Dancehall Doctor, University of the West Indies Professor, Donna P. Hope, who shared the post and contended that “we must protect our culture at the source. Jamaican Dancehall Dancers united”.
Professor Hope who is Professor of Culture, Gender and Society at the UWI, is the author of several books on Jamaican Dancehall and Reggae including Inna di Dancehall: Popular Culture and Politics of Identity in Jamaica and Man Vibes: Masculinities in Jamaican Dancehall said, among other things, that “the Dancehall Dancers have work to do to tackle this current situation”.
Also expressing consternation was acclaimed Jamaican dancer, Maria A. Hitchins, founder of Dancers of Jamaica and who also teaches a dancehall dance as a course at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts’ School of Dance.
“The position of @dancehalldanceassociation has been expressed respectfully & certainly is not unreasonable. They are simply asking for non-Jamaicans to STOP disregarding them while visiting Jamaica and profiting from their culture!!” she stated unequivocally on her Instagram page.
“A conversation must be sought with @mcgesjamaica @hon.oliviagrange to see what protection is there for Jamaican dancers in regards to earning from their own culture in their own country. The DDA will seek clarity,” she added.
The Dancehall Dance Association describes itself as having “a growing membership of more than 200 committed dancers, including respected industry dance veterans and crews as well as emerging talents”. The group meets monthly, “to share and celebrate their success stories, while strategizing ways to combat existing challenges”.
The issue of work permits being issued by Jamaica’s Ministry of Labour, has been thrust again into the spotlight, with the new developments.
As far back as 2007, then Minister of Labour Pearnel Charles had warned that employers applying for work permits, must first advertise job openings in the newspapers, and submit a copy of the advertisement along with the application to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, as “no work permit will be used to deny any Jamaican a job at no level whatsoever”.
Charles had said that permits for overseas workers will only be granted “when we are satisfied that the worker is not in Jamaica” and that an official from the National Training Agency would be appointed to verify whether the skills sought for the work permit is available in Jamaica.
However, Hitchins pointed out on the Professor Hope-led discussion that the non-Jamican choreographers were circumventing the Labour Ministry.
“Thus far no one is hiring them, they hire themselves by taking up residency on the island and illegally working without a permit putting on their own tours with their fellow countrymen effectively blocking Jamaicans from earning from their own culture in their own country,” she explained.
“And we know from experience like many other laws in Jamaica they are not strictly adhered to, keep in mind that immigration ought to be picking up these people pattern even before Labour laws would get any notification… they easily ‘take up residence’ and no one seems to care and once they get through with that they take it a step further,” she said.
Over on the DDA’s Instagram page, there was strong support for their statement, by Jamaican nationals, including those domiciled overseas, as well as foreigners who said it was senseless to visit Jamaica to be taught Jamaican culture by non-Jamaicans.
“But who wants to learn dancehall from non-Jamaican dancers in Jamaica anyway??????? You go to Jamaica to learn culture, history, music, dancehall from the source. Show love, respect and support the culture and JA dancers!! 🙏🏽🇯🇲❤️,” dancehalllovenyc said.
“The only way it should be and if anyone has a problem, they were never in it for the correct reasons to begin with 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💯💯,” missroseuk, said.
“To spend money and travel all the way to JA to take a Dancehall Dance class from a non-Jamaican!!!…just doesn’t make sense 😕,” 1983kimsimgilch added.
Another follower said that the non-nationals were disguising the trips to Jamaica as “Dancehall-trips” and would “make people pay package prices”.
“They usually include some Jamaican dancers as well to hold work shops, but 90% of the profit goes to the non-Jamaican organizers… They do this in different African countries as well,” one woman said.
Other commenters said that the appropriation of traditional folk forms by foreigners for personal gain, was widespread.
“Okay… But can y’all make this global cause it’s tiresome watching people who aren’t even Caribbean teaching shit world wide,” paandoora said.
“It’s colonizer mentality to think anything different and it’s sad this statement is even needed. I don’t think ppl understand their privilege or even what it is, especially those who choose to make Jamaica their residence. That is privilege alone,” alai_lux said.