Dancin’ Dynamites celebrates 20 years of transforming Jamaican dance culture

MECA Entertainment Centre in Marketplace, St Andrew, comes alive this Saturday as Jamaica’s televised dance competition, Dancin’ Dynamites, hosts its 20th anniversary grand finale.

According to conceptualiser and executive producer Dr Jennifer ‘Jenny Jenny’ Small, this season has been one of the most competitive yet, with Team Ignite dominating public voting throughout much of the competition while Team Impact continues to challenge for the top spot. In a special twist for the 20th anniversary, only three teams, not four, will advance to the finals.

“Which means all three would win something. This Friday (June 5) we will close the vote lines at 12 o’clock to select the top three teams based on votes. And, then they’re going to go at it,” said Small.

Adding further excitement to the finale is the introduction of the ‘Gully/Gaza Ultimate Battle’, a special segment created in partnership with Magnum’s A Taste of Reggae Sumfest. Conceptualised by series producer Sutania Williams, the special segment will see dancers clash to the music of dancehall icons Vybz Kartel and Mavado, paying tribute to one of dancehall’s most legendary rivalries. The winning team will receive a $100,000 cash prize and a coveted performance slot at Reggae Sumfest.

The stakes are high, with the winning team receiving $1 million cash, championship trophies, an all-expenses-paid trip to Panama courtesy of Stampede Promotions and Jenny Jenny Productions, a trip to Let Us Dance in Coral Springs, USA, courtesy of MECA, and scholarships to Excelsior Community College. The second-place team will receive $200,000 plus sponsor gifts, while third place will take home $100,000 plus sponsor gifts. Fans are also in for rewards, as the Top Voter of the Season will win an AC unit from DunnKool and a two-night, three-day stay for two at Aspen Luxury Suites.

Organisers say the partnership between Dancin’ Dynamites and Magnum A Taste of Reggae Sumfest also celebrates the important role dancers play in helping songs become hits, highlighting the longstanding relationship between dance and music culture.

“It’s a beautiful salute to each other. Because there’s no denying the feat that’s put in it by the dancers to ‘buss off songs’. When you have so many songs in the mix, which song gets played? Which song is it that gets to the dance hall? Usually it’s a dance. It is based on the dancers. And therefore it’s a beautiful way for them to show respect both ways in terms of how dancers ‘buss music’,” Small stated.

The competition has evolved into a cultural institution, transforming the lives of countless dancers while helping to elevate dance from a supporting act to a respected profession. According to Small, one of the show’s greatest achievements has been creating career opportunities for dancers both locally and internationally. Former contestants now work as performers, choreographers, instructors and entertainers across Jamaica, Europe, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The finale will feature performances from former participant turned dancehall artiste Kaka Highflames, along with ReniGAD, Prince Saj, and Kevin Downswell. Showtime begins at 4 p.m.