As he prepares for upcoming shows in Canada and the United States with singer Megan Soo, choreographer CJ Jackson plans to incorporate some Jamaican moves into her live set. Jackson, born in Toronto to Jamaican parents, has long admired the style of urban dancers like Bogle and Ice, as well as New Wave groups such as Kaka Highflames and North Coast Boyz. "New-school dancehall wouldn't have been created if it wasn't for the traditions of old school.
However, at the same time, dancehall is such a free form of art that mixing old school with modern styles created new school," he said. Jackson was in Jamaica during the summer of 2023 with Soo and Jamaican deejay E-Dee to promote her song, Michigesso . He choreographed the dance routine for that single's video.
A graduate of George Brown College in Ontario, Jackson's parents are from St Andrew and St Mary. Through them, he developed an appreciation for Jamaican pop culture, including the late Bogle, who rose to prominence during the 1990s with dance moves like 'World Dance' and the 'Urkel'. "The most fascinating thing to me about Jamaican dance culture is how the style of dancehall was developed.
Jamaican dance culture is very traditional, but also free," said Jackson..