Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
Dancers go through a routine, choreographed by Kameica Reid, at the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall, at Weekendz on March 1.

Francine Black, Staff Reporter

Kameica Reid, dancer and choreographer, has been in dancing for just over 20 years, but her contribution outweighs the time and her tiny frame.

At six years old, Reid was infected with the dance virus, and over 20 years later, it has led her to open a dance studio and work with almost everybody in the entertainment business.

Reid was a founding member of Wolmer's Dance Troupe and later Dance Theatre Xaymaca (DTX), which was created to provide a means of continuity for members of the Wolmer's Dance Troupe. "I have been doing this from I was young; dancing is in my blood ," she said.

Music videos

She said that recognising her talent, Barbara McDaniel, artistic director for the Wolmer's Dance Troupe and DTX, encouraged her to do some choreography. Reid started out choreographing for pieces in theatre and then moved into music videos, where her work became even more popular.

Reid has worked with practically every popular dancehall artiste. Her work can be seen in music videos such as Wayne Wonder's No Letting Go, Wayne Marshall's Marshall Town, Left Side and Esco's Tuck Een Yuh Belly, Elephant Man's Signal Di Plane and Higher Level, Ce'Cile's Do It To Me, Baby Cham's Vitamin S, Onaje's Made Me Realise, Bling Dawg's Stress Free, Beenie Man's Dancehall Queen and Patra's How Do You Love, among many others.

One of her greatest achievements to date, she said, was opening her own dance studio, Dancefit, which is located along Constant Spring Road, St Andrew. She provides training for adults who are interested in learning more about dance and movement.

While Reid has only one studio, she said she really wanted to open more in as many parishes as possible, giving Jamaicans the opportunity to learn about dance. "It's really a joyous thing when you teach these adults, who were shy at first, to do choreography that you teach professional dancers and they do it. At the end of the day they are happy to have learnt something new and do not even realise that at the same time they are contributing to their own health," she said.

Glitz and success

But Reid said dancing was not one of only glitz and success. She said that being a professional dancer comes with its challenges. "A lot of times people will want dancers or choreographers and they don't realise the amount of time and energy it takes to put on a show," she said.

She said there was generally little respect and many do not recognise that doing dancing and choreography every day requires a lot of talent and discipline.

The rise of the street dancing, she said, also presents it own set of challenges and advantages. "It's good because it creates a hype. A lot of the moves are simple and watered down and so allow the everyday man to do them and become involved in dancing," she said.

However, Reid said some of the moves are ridiculous, "like carry the basket and cut the cho-cho". These ridiculous moves, she said, only helped to make a mockery of serious dancing, which is already struggling to gain respect.

Dance troupe

Reid's dance training came largely in the Wolmer's Dance Troupe and since she has been a member of DTX. There she learned about ballet, jazz, Afro-Cuban and African to hip-hop and dancehall styles, among other genres, making her quite versatile.

Kameica Reid also has training outside of dance, as she has a first degree in economics and management studies. However, her first love still remains dancing. "I love choreography ... but being a dancer probably has little edge," she said.

Her career continues to grow and develop and she hopes to work with international artistes and choreographers. Reid wants to work with Fatima and Wade Robinson, who she said inspire her.