The Bogle Dance is a Jamaican-born dance move invented in the 1990s which involves the moving of one’s body in a longitudinal, ocean-wave motion while at the same time raising one's arms up and down, aiding the wave motion.
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The dance move was engineered and created by Gerald Levy, a reggae dancehall legend. Levy and his dance move are associated with the genres of reggae, dancehall, or Jamaican music which developed in the 1960s, but did not become popular until the 1980s. These original and relaxing genres of music involving the soft playing of instruments such as guitars, keyboards, bass percussion, and horns.
The Bogle dance move became popular along with the acceptance of reggae and then Dancehall music and is now referred to as an “Old School” dance move, inferring that the move was invented awhile ago, or used by older people. The bogle dance move is more prevalent in reggae dance halls, a popular gathering place for dancing such as a club or ballroom. The dance move has now developed and branched off into other dances, which continue to be used in music videos such as Rihanna's hit song “Rude Boy". Since the Bogle dance move originated in Jamaica, many Jamaicans think of the Bogle as a cultural or homeland dance and are proud to call Gerald Levy their own.
Music
The music to which the Bogle dance move is associated to is within the Reggae genre, specifically what is called dancehall music. Original reggae music developed from rocksteady music in the 1960s by the organ shuffle. The new revolution of rocksteady music was brought forth by Bunny Lee and was evident in more fast paced and rock-like songs. Songs that came from rocksteady include: "Say What You're Saying" (1967) by Clancy Eccles, "People Funny Boy" (1968) by Lee Scratch Perry, and The Pioneers 1967 hit single, "Long Shot Bus' Me Bet."
Other genres that influenced Reggae’s new sound were R&B, Dub, Toasting, and Ska: all of which contribute their own instruments, rhythm, or sound to the new dancehall reggae genre. With the instant global popularity of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh’s peaceful and soothing tunes, people started turning their heads towards Reggae because of songs such as “I Shot the Sheriff,” and “One Love.” Marley’s songs continue to be played on the radio today.
The turn from casually listening to reggae style music to dancing to reggae was brought forth in 1980 through Gerald Levy. It is said that Mr. Levy would create moves while expressing himself on the dance floor and then taught people how to do it. Dancehall moves are known for being somewhat suggestive and sensual due to the movement of the hips and rolling of the body. Even though the new dance styles became popular in Jamaica fast, not until the 1990s was the new dancehall style of reggae music welcomed worldwide.
Levy helped the crossover to dancing by making up his own sporadic, and exotic moves in which he was later known for. The dancing music, or dancehall music, grew to incorporate new beats and sounds like electronic music and sampling. Also this new, warped style of reggae periodically included a DJ rapping and singing to fast, quick tempo rhythms. This concoction of music and dance quickly became a popular weekend hobby for the young people of Jamaica and the world.
Gerald Levy
Gerald Levy (22 August 1964 – 20 January 2005) was the mastermind behind many dance moves that he invented while enjoying himself at Jamaican dancehalls. While in his prime years of dance production he was also known as, Mr. Bogle, Father Bogle, and Mr. Wacky. Many friends and artists explained that Levy could effortlessly create dances where he would move in such interesting and memorable ways. Little did Mr. Levy know that his dances would later become popular and help fuel a new and different Jamaican lifestyle. Mr. Levy invented moves such as the Willie Bounce (named after his Black Roses Crew member Willie Haggart), Wacky Dip, Urkle Dance, Sesame Street, Bogle Dance, Pelper, LOY, Jerry Springer, Zip It Up, Hotti Hotti Bogle, World Dance, Pop Yuh Collar, Row di Boat, Out and Bad, Sweeper, and Stuckie.
Levy was murdered on January 20, 2005 at a gas station in Kingston, Jamaica. While sitting in a Ford F-150 with four others, two men on motorcycles rode by and shot the car multiple times, injuring Levy and all four others. Although they would all go to the hospital, only Levy and one other died because of the injuries sustained by the wounds. Former creative rival over the past year, John Hype, was suspected of the murder after his house had suspiciously been fire bombed and burnt down later that evening. Even though he has passed on due to his martyrdom, people of Jamaica still consider Mr. Levy the greatest dancehall dancer of all time.
Artists that Bogle
Artists today continue to give the Bogle Man shout outs in their songs to help survive his legacy of grace and creativity. Some artists that have included the Bogle Man in their songs are DJ Bounty Killer, the trio Voice Mail, Elephant Man, and Beenie Man. In Beenie Man’s song, “L.O.Y.” he sings, “Check Mr. Bogle and the Roses Crew, have a new dance whey want everybody to do.” At the time of Levy’s death, Beenie Man offered a heavy million dollar bounty for those who could find the suspected murderers of Levy and also said he would raise the bounty to two million dollars after a week. Beenie Man and Levy were very close friends due to the time they both spent in dancehalls in the 90’s.
Most recently, pop-star Rihanna has included the legacy of Gerald Levy in one of her latest songs, “Rude Boy,” where she is seen doing the Bogle, and using other Jamaican dancehall moves and psychedelic colors. In an interview Rihanna said, "We used a lot of color, but also the costumes were very Jamaican dance-hall queen type." Rihanna as well as other artists continue to carry on the customs and culture of Jamaica.
Ria Watson, of Finchfield, is the 1994 West Midlands School Champion.