Dancers keeping pace despite ‘Overload’
FOR members of the dance group Overload Skankers, it is all about ‘getting a hype’ when they showcase their moves at parties.
After four years on the dance circuit, Romario ‘Reds’ Douglas, Teroy ‘Chukki’ Dobson and Oshane ‘Mutty’ Forrest are still paying their dues.
During a break from rehearsals recently, Douglas told the Jamaica Observer they are yet to be paid for their performances.
“I must admit that after being placed fifth in the Dancing Dynamites competiton we have gotten a lot of exposure and we are extremely grateful for this,” he said.
“However, we are never paid even when we are invited to dance at events. As a result, it is very challenging financially,” added Douglas, who appears in Tifa and Spice’s Why You Mad music video.
Douglas, 19, Dobson, 24, and Forrest 21 are from St Catherine. Overland Skankers officially started in 2010 when Douglas and Forrest were students at Bog Walk High School. They were later joined by Dobson.
Last year, the trio got a partial breakthrough by entering Dancing Dynamites, a show that seeks to widen Jamaica’s appreciation of culture and dances.
Douglas says he and his colleagues are aware that dancing at this time is not financially profitable They are currently seeking employment and hope to enter the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts.
