Overmars

STAR: What are your thoughts on the stereotypical concepts of dancers - that dancers wear tight pants, bleach, are homosexual? How does this affect your career and dancing on a whole?

Overmars (Ravers Clavers) : "Yuh have certain dancers mek it bad for us, it look so feminine, wearing skinny jeans. To me, dat nuh right; yuh can't be a dancer and be feminine. Jamaica is more hardcore who bun out dat kinda ting. It affects us and is unfair when one dancer do it and everyone call so. They need to be more specific."

STAR: Where do you get the inspiration for dancing?

Overmars (Ravers Clavers): "Dance is fundamental for we in Nannyville. Bogle inspire we to mek it more International, a job."

John Bling of Black Blingaz

STAR: Do you believe that your dancing is an art form? Why?

John Bling (Black Blingaz): "Yeah because dancing is an expression of the way we feel. Based on how we feeling, you gonna express yourself, which is art."

STAR: Do you think dancers with formal training are better than you guys are? How do you differ?

John Bling (Black Blingaz): "Mi wouldn't seh dat. Fi us, dancing is an inborn thing, not something we have to go to school to learn. We don't compile it, we just mek it up. Trained dancers is just a different style."

Shelly Belly

Star Artistes of the month, shot at The Gleaner on Wednesday, October 3, 2007

STAR: Is dancing something you would let your kids pursue? Why?

Shelly Belly: "Yeah, because dem a carry on from dem father. We woulda like dem fi try sumting different still, but if dem want to carry it on, low dem."

STAR: What are your suggestions for the crime problems in inner-city communities?

Shelly Belly: "Di people inna di community fi stop di violence, put down di guns. Everybody fi come as one and keep a dance.

Blue of Timeless

STAR: What are your thoughts on female dancers? Do you think they get enough respect?

Blue (Timeless): "To me, I don't see that they have any problems. They are getting big up as much as us. Dem seem to be doing well."

STAR: Where do you see dancing in five years?

Blue (Timeless): "On top of di world. I would love to see all di dancers living together if growth is to happen."

Garth Sample of Sample Six

STAR: How does the Jamaican society view dancers?

Garth Sample (Sample Six): "Dem nuh too fancy dem movie-star dancers; only when we go overseas we get glory."

STAR: Is there any perception of dancers that you would like to change?

Garth Sample (Sample Six): "Mi woulda like dem stop judge di book by di cover. All di tight pants ting. More time, di yute dem can't dance inna baggy pants and ting. Dem haffi understand."