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Moves of the monarchsStyles from the isles at the Dancehall
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by ERIN MACLEOD There’s a reason why they call it dancehall. This will be crystal clear Saturday night at Montreal’s Dancehall Queens and Kings competition, where the reigning dance monarchs will be crowned. In Jamaica, Brian “Big Head” Martin held a small contest back in 1996. It has now grown into a worldwide annual affair, drawing thousands to Montego Bay and sparking Dancehall Queen competitions everywhere from Tokyo to Toronto. Quebec is no stranger to the world stage, as Maude “MoMo” Francato of Rimouski went home with the international title in 2007, becoming the second foreigner to do so after 2002’s win by Japanese dancer Junko. Here in Montreal, the contest has been around almost as long, established 12 years ago by local promoter Boom Justice. Last year, King Boomie and Queen Taby won the show, and this year, 2006 Montreal Queen Lady Splitz takes the reins, hoping to up the event’s profile. “It’s about the hairstyles, it’s about the fashion,” she says. “We’re making sure that we have a little bit of everything. I took how they did it in Jamaica. Sure, it’s smaller, but you have to start somewhere!” Passionate about dance, Lady Splitz has been dancing most of her life and developed the Mystique Dancers troupe alongside Shakira Romano. This led her to get more involved, eventually leading Splitz to her win in 2006. Queen Sheba, Montreal’s 2005 Queen, who has travelled with Lady Splitz to dance in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, among other locations, knows the ins and outs of the competition. “There are different rounds,” she says. “Judges mark for clothing and dance technique. You want dance routines that are not repetitive. A lot of the time, flexibility is important. Hairstyle, sometimes. It’s also attitude—they look for someone who is positive.” Eat off your movesYou also might have a few special tricks up your sleeve. For instance, as Sheba says, “I have an edge because I do use my flexibility. You can use that type of thing or you might have a significant move that is known to you. It depends. A Splitz concurs. “Some people go on stage wearing bras and panties, thinking that’s what they want. When they don’t win, they are upset and wonder why.” And what about the recent Jamaica government ban on sexually explicit music, and the call by the Jamaica Council of Churches to ban street dances? While thinking this might be going too far, Sheba admits that dancing has changed. “It used to be if you were in the splits, they would say, ‘She is so X-rated.’ If you were dancing with a guy behind you, they would say the same thing. Now you have girls bending over cars, doing what they call ‘daggering’. It started off in good fun, but was taken too far.” Of this simulated-sex dancing, Splitz agrees “it’s overboard” but insists, “It’s not what they are looking for from a dancehall queen.” “You might see that at street parties, but not on stage,” Sheba says. “You are competing—not you and a guy or you and your crotch! It’s you. It’s what you can do, how well you can dance. It’s also about promoting the music. You want to be a dancehall queen who is known for dancing and not for what guys can do to her.” And what about the men’s competition? “Judges look for neatness,” explains Splitz. “It’s about how they express themselves, how they imitate.” When talking about imitation, Splitz is referring to the many unique dance moves and styles that are developed. “In Jamaica, dancers will get to travel based on their dance moves,” elaborates Sheba. “They make up a dance move. Other people learn it and people start following the trend. Then, boom, the dancer can start travelling, get visas, get paid off their dance move.” It’s understandable if people get touchy about who originated a particular style. This becomes a job, after all, and a job for individuals who might not have the same types of opportunities otherwise. “People are eating off their moves. Through dancing, they can get out of Jamaica, away from the crime and the poverty.” AT VISION LOUNGE (662 90TH, |
lot of people think it is just going up there in some small short-shorts. This isn’t the case.”