Representatives of the world-famous, New York City-based Scratch DJ Academy will be in Negril this week, conducting training sessions for staff members of Beaches hotels in Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The sessions, which will be held at Beaches Negril, will see Jamie Keogh, head trainer from the Miami Academy and Brandon Fluharty from New York participating.

The move, a first for both men, came about as a result of Beaches partnering with Scratch DJ Academy to launch its latest innovation to enhance entertainment for teens and families in general staying at the hotels. Staffers who are trained will be certified to conduct classes with guests when the programme is launched next month.

Scratch DJ Academy teaches the popular and musical art form of the DJ founded in 2002 by its current CEO, Rob Principe, Reg E Gaines, author of Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk and the late Jam Master Jay, the legendary DJ of Run DMC. Combining copyrighted curriculum and hands-on training, Scratch DJ Academy offers an incredible opportunity for amateur and aspiring music enthusiasts to learn how to deejay, from mixing and blending to scratching and beat juggling.

Group Director of Operations for Sandals Resorts, Shawn DaCosta was present to observe the first session. He was thrilled at the response. “Teens staying at our Beaches resorts are in for a great and memorable experience as they will be able to go back home and show off at their friends’ parties with this new skill they have acquired while on vacation,” he said.

Scratch DJ will be the latest addition in a number of special entertainment features piloted by CEO Adam Stewart at the Beaches resorts. The ” DJ 101″ programme will be real edutainment.