Junko Kudō
Encyclopedia
Junko Kudo, alias Junko, Junko Bashment, or Dancehall Queen Junko, is a Japan
ese professional dancer, specialising in reggae
dance, known internationally in reggae circles as the first foreign "Dancehall Queen".
, Jamaica
, to win the official female dance tournament for "dancehall reggae" music and took the $50,000 prize, and as a consequence took the title of "Dancehall Queen", after two years of practice and a background in classical ballet. With her victory, she opened the door for dancers from around the world to compete. Known in the reggae world under the nickname Dancehall Queen Junko (or sometimes simply Junko after losing her title), she has since featured in videos, shows, and concerts "sound system
s" in reggae music around the world, including in France. She also teaches dance in Japan
, and has released DVDs teaching and demonstrating as an artist and producer, and popularising Jamaican culture in Japan. A television report dedicated to Junko was part of the British television programme Japanorama shown on 21 September 2006 on BBC Three
.
video by Tony Matterhorn
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese professional dancer, specialising in reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
dance, known internationally in reggae circles as the first foreign "Dancehall Queen".
Biography
Under the nickname of Junko Bashment, aged 24 in April 2002, she became the first non-Jamaican, in Montego BayMontego Bay
Montego Bay is the capital of St. James Parish and the second largest city in Jamaica by area and the fourth by population .It is a tourist destination with duty free shopping, cruise line terminal and the beaches...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, to win the official female dance tournament for "dancehall reggae" music and took the $50,000 prize, and as a consequence took the title of "Dancehall Queen", after two years of practice and a background in classical ballet. With her victory, she opened the door for dancers from around the world to compete. Known in the reggae world under the nickname Dancehall Queen Junko (or sometimes simply Junko after losing her title), she has since featured in videos, shows, and concerts "sound system
Sound system
-Technology:* Sound reinforcement system, a system for amplifying audio for an audience* A high fidelity, sound system intended for accurate reproduction of sound in the home...
s" in reggae music around the world, including in France. She also teaches dance in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and has released DVDs teaching and demonstrating as an artist and producer, and popularising Jamaican culture in Japan. A television report dedicated to Junko was part of the British television programme Japanorama shown on 21 September 2006 on BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
.
Dance
Dancehall Queen Junko video appearances has included videos from Elephant Man (musician) like Pon Di River. She is also in the 2006 Dutty WineDutty Wine
"Dutty Wine" is a head dance. There are several Dancers in Jamaica who claim they were its creator. Although there is proof in a video with one of the crowned Dancehall Queens named Mad Michelle first performing the dance in front of a crowd...
video by Tony Matterhorn
Tony Matterhorn
-Tony Matterhorn Bio:Tony Matterhorn His feisty attitude has kept him at or near the top of the sound system game for many years. Tony Matterhorn has now found new territory as a dancehall deejay with a handful of hits pounding the dancehall both locally and overseas.Dubbed 'Mr...
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DVD
- 2006/02/14 : High School Dancehall - DVD Magazine Volume 1 - Produced By Junko
- 2006/08/10 : Dance Style Reggae 2 - Junko
- 2008/03/25 : Dance Hall Queen Junko presents: Reggae Channel - World Dance