For two consecutive years (2012 and 2013), the Japanese snatched the World Reggae Dance Championship title, but as the dance groups faced off on August 4 at the Jamaica Festival Village at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, it was the Endevarous Dancers from St. Thomas who snatched the 2014 Championship.
13 groups including Dynamix Team, STR8 Edge Society, Hectic Dymondz, Equanoxx Skankas, Untouchable Squad, High Voltage, Endevarous, Inkursion Unit, X-Klusive Dancers, Flava Flava Dancers and Ice Lynk Skankaz and Japanese groups, JA to JA and Yallow Yellow stepped out with the latest dance moves delivering impressive and entertaining pieces to a massive crowd at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre. At the end of the night, Endeavarous walked away with $500, 000 cash prize, gift baskets and a trip to Japan to perform at the One Love Jamaica Festival.
Untouchable Squad from Kingston & St. Andrew walked away with second place, gift baskets and $200, 000 while the third place spot was given to Equanoxx Skankas who won $100, 000 and gift baskets. The Most Discipline sectional prize was awarded to High Voltage dancers who received $30, 000 while Str8 Edge Society and Equanoxx Skankas were both awarded the Best Costume Award.
Miss Kitty emceed the night’s programme which was opened by a choreographed piece by Orville “Dance Expressionz” Hall which set the tone for what was to be a tightly contested competition. The dancers were then given two minutes to deliver freestyle routines following presentations from their trainers including Global Bob and Mathew and Conray Richards from the Shady Squad. The night’s judges included Shelly Ann Callum, LAntoinette Stines, Latonya Dillon, Fredrick “Tippa” Moncreiffe, and Queen Lateisha Brown.
The audience was entertained by solid and impressive performances from the 2014 Festival Song Winner DeepJahi, and dancehall artistes Voicemail and Mr. Vegas. The Doro Dance Ensemble which showcased the origin of the Jamaican dance also entertained the audience.