Jamaicans islandwide were treated to a “Wakanda-style” celebration for the Charles Chocolates Dancin’ Dynamites Competition finale last Sunday. Roars of screams and applause filled the venue as crowd favourites Street Team were announced as the Season 13 winners to roars of screams and applause.
The show hosts, judges, and audience members donned their finest dashikis and asa okes during the live show, as the winning team – which had also entered the competition last year but placed fourth – thrilled audience members and beat four other competing dance crews with their quick footwork and eye-dazzling afro moves.
Roxanne Brown, Brand Manager for Charles Chocolates, said she was pleased with the outcome of the grand finale. “This ‘Clash 13’ season was extremely challenging but the dancers stuck to it and we’re glad that they performed well,” she said. “The weekly challenges were demanding, however, Street Team was determined. They covered the craft lessons they had learned from the previous competition and I’m really happy that they won. They deserve it.”
The team, which comprises Kemar Boyd, Adrian Jonas and Andre Henry, received the public’s top vote and cash prizes of over J$1 million from Jenny Jenny Productions, title sponsor Charles Chocolates, and associate sponsors. Anchovy High, the only team from a secondary school, placed second; New Era placed third; and Unruly Skankaz placed fourth; taking home J$400,000 from Jenny Jenny Productions and Burger King, J$200,000.00 and J$50,000.00, respectively, along with other prizes in kind.
The finale’s “Wakanda” theme paid homage to this year’s huge box office Disney-Marvel action hit Black Panther, which boasted a predominately black cast and crew as it became the top grossing solo superhero movie of all-time. In keeping with the theme, the dance routines from the clashing teams resembled popular African dances such as the ‘gwara gwara’ from South Africa and the Ghanian ‘azonto’.
Street Team’s Kemar Boyd said, “This year, we come back fi it mad! We don’t settle as losers. We always aim high and we aim for first place.” Also admitting that they had to employ a much different approach to gain the edge, he said, “Everything weh we do last year, we do it twice as hard this year and think outside of the box. We get up early inna di morning and campaign.”
The show’s Jamaica College Auditorium venue was graced with the presence of Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport the Honourable Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, who also joined in on the action on stage with Chi Ching Ching during his performance debuting his new song and dance move ‘Rice and Peas’. Dancehall duo and Charles Chocolates Ambassadors Voicemail and gospel artiste Kevin Downswell also provided musical entertainment.
Roxanne Brown, Brand Manager of Charles Chocolates, poses with Andre Henry (left), Kemar Boyd (second right) and Adrian Jonas of Street Team at last Sunday’s finale staging. The dance crew are the 2018 winners of the Chocolates Dancin’ Dynamites Competition.
