These women are engaged in what appears to be a 'splitting' competition.

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

What started slow turned out to be an exciting showcase of acrobatic dancing and pulsating music at Bembe Thursdays, held at Weekenz, Constant Spring Road, St Andrew.

Unlike previous occasions, Thursday started slow with a sparsely occupied venue, as late as 12:30 a.m. Selectors Razz and Biggy simply played relaxing R'N'B songs, including Rihanna's Take A Bow and No Air by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown, which put the audience in a mellow mood.

There was very little movement in the venue, even as the selectors played crowd favourites, Romance Me and She Loves Me, from Serani.

However, as Lil Wayne's A Milli was selected almost everyone started dancing. Other money-related songs such as Mavado's Money Changer, Konshen's Winner and Vybz Kartel's Trailer Load A Money increased the energy, forcing even policemen in uniform to dance. As On The Go played, various dancers used the opportunity to show off the various Usain Bolt dance moves.

slapping themselves

The men took themselves away when the women got the opportunity to Bubble Like Soup with Timberlee and to Busy Signal's Do Dat. Vybz Kartel also gave them a little Beating. At the mere intros of Pamputae's Good Good and Tony Matterhorn's Goodas Fi Dem, the women went wild, slapping themselves all over their bodies.

The slapping was tame when compared to what transpired in the 'daggering' segment. At first, there seemed to be splitting and bending competitions among some women. But that was not enough. They proceeded to climb the supports that kept the stage in place, gyrating and swinging on them, until the selector told them to get off.

'daggering'

Bragga's Dagga Dat was well received and created quite a stir when the men joined the 'daggering'. By then, the dancers became more acrobatic and Biggy started referring to them as 'gymnast' and 'Jungle Gym'. Many of the patrons became mere spectators when the dancers carried on with their antics to songs such as Aidonia's Hundred Stab and Mavado's Inna De Car Back.

sexual dancing

The highly sexual dancing turned gangster within minutes with the selection of songs on Stephen McGregor's Day Rave rhythm. Songs such as Mavado's Real Killa and Weh Dem A Guh by Vybz Kartel and Jah Vinci kept the vibes blazing. As Razz and Biggy alternated songs from Mavado and Vybz Kartel, the pounding on the wall and shouting got louder from the appreciative crowd.

Comedy was not left out of the mix as LA Lewis made an appearance to give away an invitation to his $37,000 launch party. He gave the crowd a good laugh before he was ushered off the stage by Biggy.

After the jumping, shouting and 'daggering', the dancers still had energy to show off the latest dance moves such as 'sweep', 'dip again', 'gangalee', 'everyday' and 'nuh linga'. Dancer Chi Ching Ching also got the chance to show off his stomping dance move, done to his Popcorn collaboration with Bling Dawg.