As part of their efforts to promote the culture and heritage ofJamaica to a bigger, global audience, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) signed an agreement with the One Love Jamaica Festival Committee to host the elimination show of the World Reggae Dance Championship during the festival in Tokyo on May 18 and 19.
Delroy Gordon, the acting executive director of the JCDC said this partnership demonstrates the power of Brand Jamaica to reach and appeal to a culture that is vastly different from theirs. The local tourism campaign has done wonders for drumming up interest in the country and its culture, which most people only think of in relation to reggae or Bob Marley. They’re looking forward to what more they can do together to promote better cultural relations between the two countries.
The World Reggae Dance Championship received its first entry from Japan in 2009 and the group, IVAN Squad won second place. And since that year, they have continually joined the competition until they finally won it in 2012. Winners of the reggae championship get over $1.5 million in cash and prizes. The winners in the Japan elimination leg will travel to Jamaica and compete in the finals in August. The champions of the dance competition will also fly to Japan to perform at the 2014 One Love Jamaica Festival. The festival is going to be held for the ninth year in Tokyo and brings in an annual crowd of 40,000 people who are very much interested in experiencing the food, fashion and of course music of Jamaica.
You must log in to post a comment.