Nah Bade promotes cleanness - Veteran dancer wants to be ambassador for Jamaica

He is certain he will be considered the dancing hero for Jamaica. However, with a name like Nah Bade, it's easy to assume he is a comedian of sorts, or even a mad man.

But after talking to him, he starts reasoning on a different level, explaining the meaning of a name which he says he got from dancehall icon Gerald 'Bogle' Levy.

"The talk 'nah bade' is about not going to the barber to hol' a shave. But me always clean and me will shave miself. If me did name 'Nah Fresh', then that a different supn. Me a promote cleanness," said Davion Hodges, or Nah Bade of Chef Squad, as he is known in dancing circles.

He continued: "It nuh mean I don't bathe, me stay clean nine days a week; me have 200 style. If anybody try cramp one, me have 199 more fi dem."

The dancer said he has been acting as an ambassador for dancehall culture since Bogle's heyday, and his story can be seen in a locally produced movie released last month titled Beautiful Jamaica, where he speaks of the abundance of talent on the island.

"It is a movie that shows Jamaica in a good light. We talking no gun, no bad word, no sex ... just clean lines. People always a see Jamaica as a place of crime and violence and we seh we nah promote dat," he said. "We want to cater to all levels of society."

Nah Bade, who claims he is the "hottest dancer in Montego Bay right now", said that while acting is also a passion, the character in the movie is not an act.

CHARACTERS IN THE MOVIE

The movie also features radio show host Ron Muschette and clippings of Minister Marion Hall singing and praying by Nah Bade's side.

He said, "If me fi do wah Bogle do, me have to be the dancing hero. And by next year, me sure me can change me name to 'Sam Sharpe the International Dancer'. It is not only for the dancehall but for church people too. I want to put myself pon a different sphere and be an ambassador for my country ... as a matter of fact, me already an ambassador 'cause every night me deh a road a put in the work."

Nah Bade's dancing career was on a hiatus for several years. But since 2017, he said he has not been absent from the street, heavily promoting dance and dancehall culture.

"A jus' corona come stop the campaign, for even the movie could get more promotion if it wasn't for this pandemic," he said. "I only took a break for my daughter, who is 10 years old now. My wish for the movie - starting with part one - is to get more promotion so the support can reach for part two, where it can attract some big names in the industry, the tourists and funding."

The dancer is also promoting the latest single and music video in which he is featured, Fake Friend, done by recording artiste Jovexx. Nah Bade is also promoting his dance moves 'Tennis' and 'Jankro Pitch'.

"We out in the streets and me promise me a guh be named the official dancing hero. He (Bogle) gave me my breakthrough and make me get visa fi tour the US and UK, but me going take it further when things get back to normal," he said.