Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Long before Passa Passa or its cousins peppered Kingston's streets, Jamaicans have been dancing on the roads with
wild abandon. Indeed, street dances were once the hallmark event of Independence celebrations. Each first Monday of August was greeted by wires being strung up, huge speaker boxes being set up and throngs of revellers dancing
and having a grand time in the streets.
Street dances existed in every nook, cranny and any space barely wide enough to hold more than one speaker box. By the late 1980s, there were at least two in Half-Way Tree and at one point three coexisted in New Kingston. Like a Ratio party but without the admission charge, Independence revellers could cavort from one street dance to the next, or in the rural areas, stay in their square and party until the cows joined them.
Though dance and fun were high on the agenda, the incorporation of Festival/Popular Song winners in the music played for the night made a constant reminder of the reason for the celebration. The bam-bam was not in vain, and all were reminded that regardless of what International Monetary Fund policies did to the dollar, "nowhere no better dan yard."
But now, depending on the angle you look at it, it seems the fever that seemingly gripped the nation, of which Roy Rayon so energetically sung about in the 1980s, has skanked into distant memory, to be filed in the box marked 'the good ole days'. Kingston now has only one major street dance for Independence.
focus on north coast
Instead, much of the focus seems to be on driving down to the north coast for the numerous parties with the offer of enough rum to make Captain Jack Black balk at the prospect. This year, the calendar provides two weekends, as both Emancipation Day and Independence Day fall in the vicinity.
Alex Chin, director of Absolute Entertainment, the promoters of last weekend's Absolute Temptation Isle (ATI), explained that last year, Stages had managed to attract approximately 5,000 patrons and the promoters estimate about 15,000 patrons this year. These parties are far from free. This weekend's Appleton Treasure Island, which began on Friday and continues through to tomorrow, features a $7,000 season band and offers 11 parties that cost from $500 at the lower end to $2,000 and $3,000.
Chin explains that it is a long-standing tradition to head to the north coast for the Independence weekend. He argues that the creation of the season brought order and greater profitability to party organisers as they could work together and cross-promote their events.
Of course, the ATI parties are only the tasty tip of the iceberg in the glass of parties and stage shows that are proffered. A glance at television provided enough choices to make a wayward teeney-bopper's head spin.
Interestingly, Chin remembers the days when people would drive down to Ocho Rios in the day then come back to Kingston for a street dance in the night. But as the street dances disappeared, more and more Kingstonians filtered from the city for their party fill. Or maybe that was vice versa.
Delroy Gordon, field services director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), points out that street dances are not really a thing of the past; they have simply abandoned Kingston. He notes that many rural communities continue to have street dances, now often incorporating them with stage shows. "There was a time when there was a kind of cessation of street dances, but since the 1990s they have been coming back, particularly in the rural areas," he said.
national street dance
Since 1998 the JCDC began having their big national street dance in Half-Way Tree, which Gordon says attracts 35,000-40,000 patrons. Additionally, the JCDC will stage a massive street gala on August 7 in New Kingston. Gordon explained that the gala will include an art gallery, exhibitions mounted by industry players, a kiddies play area, and a food court.
There will also be four stages that will feature poetry, contemporary talent and traditional folk forms. The main stage will be populated by several popular artistes when night beckons. The marching band competition will also culminate at the gala while the participants in the cheerleading competition will also be invited to participate.
Gordon explains that traditional elements of the Independence celebrations, such as the National Vigil, the Independence Parade, and the Fisherman's Regatta, which will take place on August 9, also continue. The Festival of the Performing Arts also continues to be a long-standing part of the Independence celebrations, and events like Mello-Go-Roun and the Best of Festival concert series showcase the time and talent injected into the events.
commercial level
Gordon is upbeat about the meaning of the changes in Independence celebrations.
"Now more and more people are organising things on a commercial level. We still consider all those celebratory things," he said. "People are finding more ways to celebrate their independence. Every corner you go people are enjoying their independence," he said.
Yet, despite his optimism, Gordon does admit that it would be even better if a little more patriotism were sprinkled into these celebrations. However, as fewer people seem willing to stand when the National Anthem is played, maybe patriotism is also going the way of the street dance.
