TuffChin

University of Technology (UTech) professor, Dr CarolArcher, says street dances broker peace and facilitate commerce whichis a view at odds with the recent policing of these events forcriminality.

"In Telaviv and Spoilers they have used them (streetdances) to allow people to come together in a peaceful and collaborative way, so they use the music not just as a cultural expression but as a way to negotiate peace," the Dean of the Faculty ofthe Built Environment at UTech Dr Carol Archer told the Observer aftera recent address at the Edna Manley College in Kingston. "And so insome communities where you could not cross that line they have used the performing and visual art in the way that they know best to discuss andresolve issues of conflict in the community."

She noted that these dances whilst arguably violating the Noise Abatement Act, are allowed to continue because their "seems to beconsensus in the community".

In August the police tried to shut down two street dancesin West Kingston's Percy Street and Oxford Street areas at about 6:15am on Saturday. This triggered a gun fight which left one - allegedly pregnant - woman dead.

She added that street dances are not just cultural expression they make money for the individuals via "fashion, dance,hair and food".

"All of that is a cultural expression that is a means of economic development for the community," she said.

Dr Archer said that street dances occur due to limitedindoor facilities which results in the "creative" use of space. Thiscreativity, she said, is also reflected in other forms of inner-cityart such as murals.

Recently, Dr Archer and the professors from theUniversity of the West Indies (UWI) collaborated to implement the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP) in Jamaica.

The project, which was officially launched in June, isnow in the first stage, and involved a Rapid Urban Profiling study on three urban areas in the country - May Pen, Clarendon; Montego Bay, StJames; Old Harbour Bay in St Catherine. Analysis of the study will focus on the themes of governance, slums, gender and HIV/AIDS, and the environment.

Dr Archer said at the time that they would focus oncrime, disaster management/mitigation and other factors affecting development of these communities.

 Source: Jobserver