Contemporary group Dance Xpressionz recently returned to Jamaica after conducting three weeks of workshops in Europe.

Orville Hall, head of the group, says classes were done in countries such as Croatia and Poland, once part of the dreaded Iron Curtain.

They also performed in Italy and Sweden. The dates began on May 21.

Hall told Splash he led dance classes which consisted mainly of females between ages 12 to 40.

“The ratio is very strong for the females. Some of our local (male) dancers are dancing like females in tight pants and gyrations similar to their female counterparts. As a result, the men in these countries tend to shy away from dance classes. Men must dance like men!” he said.

Roots-reggae has always been popular throughout Europe, especially at major summer festivals. In the last decade, the global appeal of Shaggy and Sean Paul helped break dancehall music in areas like war-torn Croatia.

Hall says the dancehall genre is mostly played by underground radio stations in the countries Dance Xpressionz visited. The sound is popular at parties.

Formed in 2000, Dance Xpressionz also includes founding members Shelly-Ann Callum and Stacey-Ann Facey. The group have also performed in Russia and are preparing for summer dates in New York and France.