FOURTH time proved the charm for St Catherine-based dance group Dynamix Team, as they emerged winners of the World Reggae Dance Championship held inside Independence Village at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St Andrew, on Thursday night.

Dynamix Team trounced 15 other dance squads from Jamaica, Finland and France to top the judges’ scorecard and walk away with the $500,000 cash prize, a trophy, and title of ‘World Reggae Dance Champions’ for 2016.

This was the group’s fourth time entering the competition — staged as part of the Emancipation and Independence celebrations — and their performance, with its fire theme, was an instant hit with the hundreds who turned out. The routine — which utilised sharp, eye-popping movements and appropriate music, including Vybz Kartel’s Di House A Bun Dung — stood out among the other acts and instantly became the standard by which all others were judged.

Group member Rushane Mitchell was clearly elated by the win and told the Jamaica Observer that the feeling was extraordinary.

“We have been working so hard over the years and for it to finally pay off, it is just a wonderful feeling. We came up with the concept for the performance one day while we were sitting at home in Spanish Town. Our neighbour’s house caught fire and at the same time the Vybz Kartel song Di House A Bun started playing. We jus’ all looked at each other and realised that the song is something we could work something around. We just include other songs in the concept and came up with the routine,” he explained.

Dynamix Team wanted to include flames in their routine but were prevented by the event’s producers due to safety concerns.

Jamaican all-girl group, Outshine Girlz copped the second spot which its $200,000 cash prize and trophy. The third position went to Street Team, who walked away with $100,000 and a trophy. Their routine also resonated with the audience with the representations of deejays Super Cat, Ninjaman and Tiger. Street Team, based in the Waltham Park Road section of the Corporate Area, also went home with the sectional prize for Most Disciplined Team.

Other consolation winners were Jah-Opa Conquerers — Best Costumed Group, with their Rasta party-inspired look. Supreme Blazers won the award for Most Popular on Social Media and NSA Human Dance from France took the Best International Group award.

The event proved to be entertaining and a welcomed addition to the line-up of events organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission. The evening’s emcee, radio personality ‘Jenny Jenny’ kept things light and lively and the onstage performances topped off the offering for the evening.