Reggae Dance Leads To Controversial Ragga

Reggae actually raga is more than a dance it’s a culture that has evolved and changed over the years. Of all the Reggae styles the Ragga has been one of the most controversial styles.

Originally it was not played on the radio because it was considered to have lyrics that were overtly sexual. It therefore began and remained in the dance hall for quite some time.

But Ragga took hold and gained popularity and with the ragga dance came an entire new fashion style. The guys could be found wearing expensive linen trousers that can only be describe as gaudy, or bright and brash suits.

The ragga fashion for women was flamboyant and a mix of vibrant colors. The extremes were in with daring hot pants, sparkly bra tops, revealing lace or fishnet tops. Describing this fashion style as daring would be quite an understatement. From Miami to England and throughout the world this new dance floor dress created quite a stir.

And since women had to look good and stay trendy the ragga fashion was constantly changing. From up dos, to wigs that were every color in the rainbow, added to the unusual clothing there simply was no such thing as too much color.

It didn’t take long for the fashion world to pick up on this trendy new dance fashion and soon ragga wear was declared “en-vogue.” Designers like Versace where quick to run with this style and soon women around the world had trendy ragga wear in their wardrobes.

The ragga fashion world has changed and evolved with the ragga dance world. The 1980s was an era of Cool and Deadly Ragga. The dance position was comfortable, eyes were closed, and facial expressions were serious. This form of reggae could be done with or without a partner.

The 1990s saw the bogle which became mainstream in no time. This dance had you stand with your knees slightly bent and you would bring your elbows to your chest at a 90 degree angle. You hands faced each other with your fingers straight. You would rotate your arms with the beat of the motion forming a circular motion, while your waist moved either side to side or front and back.

The bogle gained international fame but it wasn’t the only Ragga dance of the 1990s. The Armstrong, Butterfly, Go Go Wine, and Tate were also popular.

The new millennium saw a very creative dance name Jerry Springer after the talk show host. The dance was a play on the fighting and quarrels that are the basis of Jerry Springer’s show. This dance was so creative because when it comes to a Springer fight everyone has their own idea of what it should look like.

2000 also saw the Prang a dance that’s hard to learn but has a whole lot of wriggling going on. The Heal and Toe is similar to Michael Jackson’s moonwalk, the Na Na Na also known as the Angel could be compared to body popping with quick body movements and head flicking. Of course there are plenty of others.

The ragga climate continues to change with youth adding their own level of sophistication to this popular dance style. And once again fashion designers like Versace, Armani, and Ralph Lauren are quick to offer clothing lines that fit the style of dance.

Jamaican dance halls have flowed over into the US but these clubs are not for the weak of heart or self conscious individual. The fashions are racy and revealing and the dance moves explicit and raw. If you’re up for the challenge feel free to visit one of these clubs which produce a mix of funny and rude dance moves and clothing or lack of beyond your wildest dreams.

Reggae dance has become very mainstream enjoyed by a mixed age group from many backgrounds. However the Ragga a form of Reggae still remains quite controversial. Even though it has a large elite following, main stay America is not quite ready for it yet.

Deon Melchior is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory. This means that as a publisher you may reprint the articles that are included in our site, as long as the article is unedited and the author box is included with it's live hyperlinks.