The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the One Love Jamaica Festival Committee in Japan to stage an elimination show for the 2013 JCDC World Reggae Dance Championship.
The winners from that elimination in Japan will travel to Jamaica to participate in the finals in August.
Delroy Gordon, JCDC's acting executive director, said that as the JCDC celebrates its 50th anniversary, and in keeping with the vision of becoming a global centre for cultural excellence, the commission would continue to promote Jamaica's rich cultural heritage on the international stage.
"We welcome this partnership, which demonstrates the power of Brand Jamaica, and we look forward to many others as it relates to our programmes at the JCDC."
In 2009, the competition received its first international entry from Japan, the IVAN Squad, which placed second. They continued to enter, and in 2012, were crowned JCDC World Reggae Dance Champions.
As part of the MOU, Juliet Cowan-Morgan, JCDC's World Reggae Dance Competition coordinator, will attend the elimination in Tokyo, Japan, at the One Love Jamaica Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19.
This year marks the ninth staging of the festival, which has become a staple in Japan. The champions of the 2013 JCDC World Reggae Dance Competition will also win a trip to Japan to perform at the One Love Jamaica Festival in 2014.
Local eliminations will continue on Friday, June 7, at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall, Westmoreland, and Friday, June 14, at the Ocean Village, Shopping Centre, St Ann, starting at 4:00 p.m.
Eliminations will also be held on Friday, June 21, at the Chinese Benevolent Association in St Andrew and Friday, June 28, at Santa Plaza in St Elizabeth.
The national finals will be held on Monday, August 5, at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston.
The JCDC World Reggae Dance Championship, which offers over $1.5 million in cash and prizes, is open to dance groups of three to six persons 16 years of age and older, residing in and outside of Jamaica. The categories are Roots Reggae, Dancehall, Reggae Contemporary/Classic, Reggae Dancehall, and Dance Narrative.
Entry forms for the 2013 competition are available at the JCDC head office located at 3-5 Phoenix Avenue, Kingston 10; at all JCDC parish offices islandwide; and online at www.jcdc.gov.jm. The forms can be dropped off at any JCDC Parish Office or taken to the elimination shows.
CrazyFruits
