Ageing in the dancehall isn't a graceful experience as persons lose their 'hipness' and status as a hot commodity in the dancehall. For dancers, growing old can be the end of one's career.

While musicians and singers can continue well into 'vintage' age, as seen in pioneers such as Byron Lee who continues to put on carnival despite age and illness, dancers can only continue dancing for so long. As the hips barely gyrate and the feet shuffle instead of 'lingering' in the dancehall, there are few dancers that make it to 50, much less older.

Jamaica's premier dancer Gerald 'Bogle' Levy was one of the few to dance into his prime. Bogle died at age 40 when he was shot at a service station along Constant Spring Road. When Bogle was killed, although not as young as current dancers, he was still creating new moves that have lasted till today. Apart from Bogle, persons like Medusa, although elderly, is still a fixture of Passa Passa, every Wednesday night and dancer Labba Labba as well.

Labba Labba

Dancehall artiste Elephant Man made reference to Labba Labba's elderly but sprightly demeanour in his song Signal the Plane. He deejayed, "Labba Labba deh inna di middle, everybody swarm, we naw weed and grab fi we hand full a corn Labba Labba may old but still deh pon form."

With the proliferation of dancers in the video light currently, how many will still keep in form well into old age? Keiva, the diva, has been dancing since she was a little girl and has never stopped. Making dancing into her full- time career, according to Keiva, dancing is her love and she has never got tired of it. While Keiva will continue to dance, she recognises that she can not dance forever as she told THE STAR, "I don't really intend to dance till I'm old, that's why I opened my store."

no time limit

When it comes to dancing Keiva knows that no dancer or entertainer can continue forever, but as long as she has the energy she will continue to dance. She explained, "I don't have a time limit on my dancing but I will continue

until I can't manage anymore. It depends on how you feel cause there will always be younger persons dancing who can bring that energy to it."

fulfilling experience

For Keiva, her store Keiva's Closet has been a fulfilling experience and she enjoys going there everyday. "Having your own business is the greatest feeling in the world, I can't describe it. I'm there everyday which helps my popularity, it keeps me visible, 'cause people are always surprised to come in and see me. I like meeting different customers," she said. For Keiva there are other avenues open to her that she wants to try as well. According to Keiva, who will be 30 next year, she is also hoping to start a family soon.

Kool Ice

Dancer Ice, is another veteran in the industry who started dancing from he was young. Now at 36, according to Ice, he still has a long career in front of him and he has no plans to quit dancing soon."Mi nah stop, if yuh seh old don't mean seh yuh cold. Mi a guh dance for a long time cause as long as yuh treat yuh body good and do whole heap of fitness. Look at Bogle him was fit and neva stop dance," he told THE STAR.

For Ice, keeping fit and treating your body well is key to maintaining your status in the field of dance. Ice says he doesn't do dances that involve jumping off sound boxes unto women or the ground. He says when he sees young dancers doing those dangerous moves he wonders if they plan to stay in the business for long. "Wha yuh a go do when yuh hurt yuhself? Mi nuh see mi bones a lick down pon di ground. Mi nuh waan hear seh true mi get certain lick mi caan dance again," he explained.