Krista Henry and Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writers

Richie Stephens does a joyous flip at 'Take Me Away', held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, on Sunday, May 29, 2005. - Contributed

'To get a hit yu haffi fit'

Black Uhuru

They leap. They flip. They split. They (almost) fly. And no, they are not the Flying Wallenda's or acrobats in the Suarez Brothers' Circus. They are Jamaican performers who often put as much acrobatics as art into their performances, thrilling the audience with 'art-obatics'.

There is, however, a thin line between adding energy to a performance with gravity-defying stunts and using gimmicks to impress a crowd.

The eight-year-old band, Rootz Underground, which has just released its debut album, Movements, has a leaper of a frontman in Stephen Newland. His expressive vocals are often accompanied by a series of double-legged leaps which bring his knees up to his chest in mid-air, his thick locks standing on end as he, incredibly, keeps on singing.

Not tired

Stitchie halfway to the heavens. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

And when he remains earthbound there is no sign of tiredness. For Stephen, his energy is both physical and spiritual. Stephen maintains that keeping fit is a major part of his routine, being a member of the Spartan Gym, an avid football player and maintaining a steady, healthy diet.

"From a spiritual standpoint music kind of takes you over. The rhythm of music is like a football game; you don't grow tired in the middle of the game. Music completely takes us over. The ideas are something we really believe in - it's our story, our observations of the world, so it's always a very emotional feeling, spiritually charged," Newland told The Sunday Gleaner.

According to Newland, being in front of Jamaican audiences, an artiste has to impress onstage to stand out from other entertainers. He explained that, "In Jamaica there is a lot of talent, so it's very difficult to please the crowd. You have to give it your all and have a vibe. You have to be energetic, which involves regular practice and training."

Speaker-top forays

Elephant Man takes his title of the 'Energy god' very seriously, regularly hoisting his stocky frame (anaconda and all) high into the stage rigging, which he then prods, to the delight of the audience. Added to this are his speaker-top forays, a stage hand often having to hold it in place while the elephantine one pleases his audience. Elephant Man loves showing off his strength onstage to the women, often taking on the 'fluffiest' women in the audience and lifting them with feather-like ease as he shows off his masculine energy.

According to Elephant Man, as an 'energy god' exercise is a part of his daily routine. "As an 'energy god' exercise is important. I gotta keep it energetic. These are things I do every morning," he said. The physical side of Elephant Man was emphasised even more recently on his latest album, Let's Get Physical, whose cover art showcases Ele in the gym. As a part of the release of his CD Elephant Man also released an exercise DVD, which has gained popularity on Youtube. The exercise videos are entitled Elephant Man Dancehall Gym #1 and Elephant Man Dancehall Gym Webisode 2.

Double flip

Rootz Underground's lead singer, Stephen Newland, brings new meaning to the term 'live performance'. - File

Richie Stephens is known as much as the Winner singer as the smooth balladeer who requests Take Me Away and it is at his show of the same name that he awed the audience with a double flip two years ago. Stephens, who is renowned for his physical fitness, also puts a split into his performances on occasion.

Nicky OJ and Stitchie drop moves of the high-flying variety, both able and willing to leap high, legs splayed. And Luciano's somersault in a stream is preserved in the video for Hills and Valleys. Capleton keeps bringing the fire on stage as well as in his music, at times reaching heights with continuous leaps into the air as he deejays and holds the beat.

'Art-obatics' gone bad

There are times, though, when the 'art-obatics' go bad, Luciano once hurting his ankle as he leapt from a speakerbox. And at one renewal of the Reggae Sumfest Festival in Montego Bay, St James, Singer J attempted to leap from the stage to a camera stand in the VIP section but fell short, crashing to the ground. That was not the worst fall, though, as at the 2007 'Death Before Dishonour' sound system clash at Pier One in Montego Bay, St James, Bass Odyssey selector Squingey fell from high in the rigging to the ground, breaking a leg.

It could have been worse, as he narrowly missed being skewered by a huge steel pin that anchors the rigging into the ground.