A new documentary opening at the Tribeca Festival explores how dancehall took root in Brooklyn
If you’ve heard “It Wasn’t Me” by Shaggy, been seduced by Sean Paul’s accent or even bobbed your head to Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” you’ve discovered dancehall. Even the most casual listener might hear the melodic strains of this infectious style while passing through certain parts of Brooklyn on any given day. Dancehall culture has crept into many different art forms, ranging from music to dance and fashion.
In “Bad Like Brooklyn Dancehall,” a new documentary opening tonight at the Tribeca Festival, directors Ben DiGiacomo and Dutty Vannier explore how the music made its way from the Caribbean to take root in New York City during the 1980s and ‘90s – and how Brooklyn became established as a hub for the culture.
The film highlights how dancers, DJs and members of the Caribbean community built a cultural bridge between Jamaica and New York through basement parties and celebrations that brought together people who were worlds apart.
