Step by step - which could save the dance Kingston

In the slums of Jamaica's largest city, away from the typical tourist traps are few economic opportunities. It can change step by step, a wild and warm, sweaty dance party weekly up to 20,000?

The club's owner is the name of popcorn legend, and he gestures toward the parking lot in front of the robust Lounge Garden. "Park here," he says. "Do you support the bar, then step by step".

It 's almost 3:30 on a Thursday morning, and little SpanishThe locals, Europeans and Americans are competing with Japanese Dancehall Queen candidates: the hinterland of West Kingston Road Town is clogged by thousands of people. Raw, vulgar and genuine Pass not your parents' cookie-cutter resort. The name is "patois of" Mix-Up ", and is a tremendously popular dancehall street party that occurs Wednesday night and Thursday night in the Tivoli Gardens, one of the islands the most feared" garrison "communities.

The Big Drawscantily clad girls with the body painted in orbit the video and catch the words to every song. Dancers with names like Cowboy, Crazy Hype and Sri Lanka Dance cluster to synchronize their movements. Vendors hawk peanuts, candy, salt cod fritters, soup, snacks and Jerk Chicken. The affable, bearded "Weedman", a fixture at every session of Easter moves cheerfully through the crowd with dried marijuana stems that sell themselves. Master, the voice of the Pass, a few steps behind the DJHe got the crowd into a frenzy and mounted hair-pulling, while running the latest club tracks Nuh Linger, MySpace, Tek Weh Yuhself friendly song singing about women, prostitutes and homosexuality.

07:30 Come watch, when the festival begins with the end of local bus driver smiling indulgently work in maneuvering through the crowd.

Pass was created in 2003 by members of the Swatch International Sound System. Dylan Powe, Chief Executive Officer for the event, explained,"And 'as genuine as the dancehall culture, and now we are not interested in watering down the most acceptable to them." E 'ground zero for culture: music, artists, dance, fashion, slang, as evidenced by the frequent presence of luminaries such as Beenie Man, Sean Paul and Shaggy. But the success and longevity challenge convention and history. More than entertainment, has a valid business opportunities for Jamaica.

But to understand why passengers might be a positive force, isnecessary to know when the culture of the community known garrisons. These communities, Tivoli, Trench Town, Concrete Jungle, Fletcher's Land, and others are the bands and "Dons" who established their entry and exit control and act as a liaison between the community and political parties. Wars are fought to protect the political boundaries and territories, and the protection of political parties, the isolated communities of the prosecution. With step by step, and the music companies haveCatalyst for Entrepreneurship, peace and community building. It is also largely devoid of violence in order to avoid the wrath spoiler, so you have a critical game from the face area.

Nearly 20,000 revelers flock to this kind of community good eye on a good night and bring their money with them. As I said Popcorn. "Can the unemployed" to establish the trust, chicken, fish, cigarettes or a box [a buy on credit] beer from a wholesaler and sell a company to pay the debts andgo ahead. All the benefits. "

New artists in hopes of getting their music come, come up to test new sounds and discovering the next big thing. Dancers-some of them violent gang members also work for the attention of big-name entertainers, producers and organizers. These are the ways to change their situation in a way neither a weapon nor a politician can. Powe said: "The community near the harbor, and the market as the mainmakes transportation hub of the 'island into a center for trade. The fact that people have always been their own businesses, companies and bustle is a natural development of what he has always said, "Powe.

Ironically, Tivoli is in the Jamaican Parliament, current Prime Minister Bruce Golding represented. It tolerates neither condemns nor Easter, an event that probably has more economic opportunities for his constituents as his government can offer. A lot of people are dependentThe residents of the garrisons. When the streets flood after a storm, the provider gives their handcarts and drums to store water and clean the streets, so it can happen again.

Skip the popularity and power as social and cultural trend-setter over the years increased. Thanks to mobile phones, YouTube, MySpace, Go to parties that can influence what happens in distant places from Brooklyn to Tokyo to London. Corporate sponsors have also taken note asoccupied by the strong presence of brands such as Jamaica Desnoes & Geddes, Digicel and Red Bull, however, most of the passengers, the business of global sales of CDs and DVDs, parties Move DJs, artists, dancers and the sound system and the derivative recently moved the line of T-shirt.

While the video is the light, the community knows that the world's attention and then interest and responsibility for their future. "It's not just entertainment," Poweshe says. "We are developing a business model."

"People do not want to live, but are eager to experience it. They like to say, they would drink at the Passover."