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Orville Hall, founder of Dance Xpressionz, was among the notable honourees at the 2025 Reggae Gold Awards, held last Friday at the National Indoor Sports Centre. Recognised for his contributions to dance, Hall received a Reggae Gold Award — marking a significant milestone not just for him personally, but for the Jamaican dance community as a whole.
Overjoyed by the honour, Hall reflected on its profound significance, noting how dance has evolved from being seen as merely an extracurricular activity to earning global recognition and respect.
When asked about the award, Hall humbly shared, “I received a Reggae Gold Award for my contribution in dance. It’s a recognition for what I have done for dance and the culture.”
For Hall, the significance of this moment extended beyond his own accomplishments to include the wider influence on dance as an art form.
“Being recognised in your own country is always something that makes you feel good,” he told The Gleaner. “But more than that, is just what it is for dance. For dance to be recognised on this stage is truly a great honour. And I’m happy to see that dance is now being recognised on these platforms.”
Hall, a long-time advocate for Jamaican dance, continues to push the boundaries of dance education. He proudly shared that he now offers accredited dancehall courses through both City & Guilds and HEART/NSTA Trust. For dancers looking to advance their careers and secure higher-paying jobs, particularly in the hotel industry, these qualifications open new doors of opportunity.
“The accreditation course from HEART is totally free for persons who wants to do it. All it takes is you giving two months of your life; and it is just two days per week, and you will then be accredited. This is good for dancers as once you, as a dancer, have an accreditation, especially those in the hotel industry, it makes it better for you.”
The passion for dancing extends far beyond Jamaica. Hall has a full tour itinerary set up and will introduce dancehall to audiences around the world, demonstrating that the genre is not just associated with musicians, but can exist independently as an art form.
“I’ll be going off in April for a Europe tour. In August, I go to Japan, and in October I leave for a South American tour. So, we’re on the road and we’re taking it out there to show people that dancehall can tour exclusively. You know, as a teacher, I don’t have to be touring with an artiste. But really teaching dancehall as a culture,” Hall said.
He added that his April tour will include Shelly Xpressionz, with both of them teaching the accredited City & Guilds version of the dancehall course. Afterwards, he and his group will head to a festival in Japan to represent Jamaica, before Shelly Xpressionz takes the spotlight again for the South American leg of the tour, continuing to showcase dancehall as a cultural movement.
English (US) ·