Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 1/10/2023
EASTHAMPTON – On Jan. 14, dance enthusiasts are invited to New City Brewery to participate in “A Tribute to Cuba,” a Latin dance party that pays tribute to the country’s culture and contribution to music.
McCoy Jamison III – a Latin dance instructor, DJ, event promotor and entrepreneur – is hosting the event at 180 Pleasant St. where attendees will dance to Cuban salsa, bachata, kizomba and merengue.
“There’s a lot of Cuban music that’s played at many dance events that … but people don’t know the actual contribution,” said Jamison III, who has been teaching multiple dances for more than eight years.
“But they’ve made a really great contribution to music.”
The event on Jan. 14, which will go from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., aims to highlight the culture and music of the country by focusing on Cuba’s unique dance methods and musical eccentricities. “I want to give an example of what it’s like to dance in Cuba,” said Jamison III. “We’re just going to pay tribute to their contribution and overall appreciation for what that music has provided to our community.”
To elevate the celebration, Jamison III is asking people to also dress in their best black and white attire for the special night. “I wanted to make this a little extra special because most of our events we just come out and dance have a good time, connect, then go home,” said Jamison III. “But I wanted to make it so people can dress up nice like back in the day.”
The rarity of hosting a dance event on a Saturday night that pays tribute to an entire country is something Jamison III is not taking lightly. “If I go to a dance venue and say, ‘Hey could I host a dance event every Saturday?’ it’s usually a no because they’re bypassing income that probably generates more than a Latin dance event would,” said Jamison III.
For example, Jamison III said the economic impact of an event predicated on rock and hip-hop music is usually much more substantial than that of a dance night because people who visit those events typically spend more money on drinks. Since dance requires more technical precision, people are less willing to consume more alcohol.
“Being able to host a Latin dance event on a Saturday night is super special,” said Jamison III.
For all of his events, Jamison III positions himself as a jack-of-all-trades who promotes, produces and teaches all of his music. The “Tribute to Cuba” event functions as a special offshoot of the weekly dance classes he typically hosts.
“I’ve devoted my life to this work so it’s my job to know about it more than the average dancer,” said Jamison III. “That’s why I’m doing this particular event in this way because Cuban music is just as big a contributor as everything else.”
On Tuesdays, Jamison III hosts a Latin Dance Night at the Marigold Theater on 84 Cottage St. from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. with a $10 cover cost. A salsa class is conducted during the first hour followed by social dancing from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Additionally, Jamison III also hosts weekly Bachata Thursdays at New City Brewery from 7 to 11 p.m. The Bachata class occurs during the first hour while Bachata, Salsa, Kizomba, and Merengue dancing dictates the final three hours of the night.
“The weekly events are a way for people to get out of the house and meet people of different backgrounds and ages,” said Jamison III. “It’s a class for everyone and anyone that has any interest to dance…whether if you never danced before or if you already have some experience.”
Jamison III told Reminder Publishing that he hopes to expand his events and add more tributes like the one for Cuba on Jan. 14. “When the weather gets warmer, I want to do some pop-up events at random places to brighten people’s day,” said Jamison III. “I want people to have an avenue to go out and have fun.”
To learn more about the “Tribute to Cuba” event, visit the Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/events/496807502564446. People can pay through Venmo, CashApp, or with cash.
To learn more about Jamison III’s classes, visit his Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/mccoy.jamison.