| When people think of the word "Caribbean," a number | | | | off when people hear the sweet, Soca / Calypso |
| of images come to mind: tropical scenes with palm | | | | rhythms. "It's in the air - Celebration time; Music's sweet |
| trees and calm, blue waters being perhaps the most | | | | - Captivate your mind," are lyrics to the song Hot Hot |
| notable. But when it comes to the evening time with | | | | Hot. The Conga Line is yet another invention attributed |
| dinner and dancing however, nothing invokes images | | | | to the Caribbean, created, essentially, as a compliment |
| of the Caribbean more than Calypso music. Certainly, | | | | to this music's beat and is, again, so basic that anyone |
| the name Calypso could hardly be associated more | | | | can follow. Just grabbing on to the waist of the person |
| with any location in the world than with the Caribbean. | | | | in front of you and, either just walking along to the |
| The name for Calypso music has been updated and | | | | rhythm or joining in on the alternating 'kick and step', |
| has changed in recent years. Now termed Soca, it is | | | | can create a dance line that includes virtually everyone |
| said that the new name came about when a dose of | | | | in attendance. |
| 'So' from Soul was infused with the 'Ca' in Calypso to | | | | The band IRIE TIME performs Caribbean Soca and |
| become Soca! While the original label continues to be | | | | Reggae music, and has discovered that, once |
| used to describe the early recordings of Harry | | | | audiences hear the infectious Calypso / Soca beat, it is |
| Belefonte and others of the period, Caribbean | | | | hard to quit! The band has recorded and released |
| communities worldwide currently refer to the music | | | | several original CDs, and has been performing live |
| now only as Soca. | | | | concerts and private events for over a decade. The |
| Soca music is dance music! It is also music that | | | | proficiency of the group's musicians, too, is so vast, as |
| anyone can enjoy dancing to, regardless of their | | | | to allow the band the capability of augmenting their |
| previous dance experience. Standing in one spot and | | | | sound to fit just about any event. Often times, for |
| moving to the rhythm is all that it takes... just swaying in | | | | instance with private events, the occasion itself will |
| whatever way the beat moves you. | | | | consist of a number of stages in the duration of the |
| Moving to the beat is, indeed, perhaps the most natural | | | | engagement, and the professionals in IRIE TIME are |
| response to hearing this music. The rhythm and beat | | | | well able and experienced in adjusting the types of |
| seem as basic as one's heartbeat and finds literally | | | | songs, volume levels, etc., of the music to optimize and |
| everyone in the room 'tapping their toes'. | | | | entertain every step of the way. |
| What is frequently seen, as well, is a Conga Line taking | | | | |