KINGSTON, Jamaica — Good music and high energy reigned supreme at Reggae Sumfest’s annual Street Dance on Monday night, as seasoned selectors delivered a masterclass in live entertainment.

Hundreds of dancehall lovers flocked to the Catherine Hall Stadium, eager for an authentic cultural showcase — and they were not disappointed.

Classic reggae and dancehall hits were seamlessly paired with blazing tracks from today’s chart-toppers, giving the event an A+ rating from patrons, some of whom travelled from as far as Israel to immerse themselves in Montego Bay’s explosive dancehall scene.

“I have been to the last three stagings of Street Dance and I have zero complaints. It just keeps getting better,” said Montego Bay resident Trinice Scott.

“What I love about this event is that the selectors feed off the crowd’s energy. They give us exactly what we want, and that allows us to enjoy ourselves and get lost in the music. Dancehall and reggae music have an energy unlike any other, and that energy is always present at Street Dance.”

With Bishop Escobar, DJ Tom and Raevas, Johnny Kool, Trippple X, and ZJ Liquid behind the consoles, the vibes quickly reached peak levels. From early juggling that celebrated the best of the ’90s and early 2000s to modern-day hits from Tommy Lee Sparta, Masicka, Vybz Kartel, and Chronic Law, patrons danced up a storm, fully immersing themselves in the Street Dance experience.

DJ Tom, who was making his Street Dance debut, said he was blown away by the turnout. Uncertain of what to expect, he admitted the experience exceeded all expectations.

“Mi never expect this turnout at all, but this is brilliant. It’s a great mixture of people from yard and abroad, and the vibes were just right. Everybody come out fi party, dem dance and enjoy dem self and we represent fi Jamaica and the culture,” he said.

Seconding his colleague, ZJ Liquid, no stranger to the Sumfest stage, noted there was something particularly special about the energy at Street Dance. He said the winning dancehall-reggae formula should continue to be celebrated and supported.

“I love the energy here. It surprised me when I walked into the venue and saw the crowd. I never expected to see so many people, mi nah lie, but at the end of the day it’s dancehall and reggae and people love the music so mi get it,” he said.

“Street Dance vibes in Jamaica is not just dancehall and reggae though, and so we gave the people a little bit of everything because we also had visitors on site. The energy was up from early, and it was a very good look.”

The already electric night soared even higher as the event climaxed with an epic performance from Ace Gawd. Earlier in the evening, rising Montego Bay artistes Tashantyy, Merrit and Kyash YMS delivered strong performances of their own, adding an extra tier of entertainment to the night.

According to Oneil “Brisco” Brissett, logistics coordinator for Sumfest’s pre-events, Street Dance hit every mark as an authentic dancehall experience.

“Street Dance did exactly what it was meant to do: bring people together in the name of dancehall and good vibes. From the early juggling straight through to the live performances, everything clicked. The selectors understood the assignment, the crowd was responsive, and the young artistes from Montego Bay held their own on that stage. It was a real celebration of the culture, and that’s what Sumfest is all about.”

Ace Gawd

Kyash YMS

Tashantyy

Selector Bishop Escobar

Selector Bishop Escobar (middle) and two patrons at Reggae Sumfest’s annual Street Dance event on Monday.