DANCEHALL artiste/dancer Ovamarz is expected to leave the island today for a series of gigs at the Big Western in Manchester, England tomorrow.

Ovamarz told Jamaica Observer that he will be using the opportunity to promote his latest single Hot Rice, a collaboration done with dancehall duo Voicemail.

“Like the song, the dance is also very well received in the streets, so the aim is to take it internationally, beginning with the United Kingdom,” he said.

Hot Rice was released last month and produced by Keep Left Records.

Following his jaunt in England, Ovamarz will be travelling to Washington DC on June 6 to record a single called Neva Give Up, with producer Wonderland Production/Ballwright Records.

The dancer/entertainer has been busy racking up some travel miles and recently completed a five-week European tour.

“It was a very successful tour. People were really interested in not only learning our dance moves, but also our culture. I feel really proud as the music and dances are taken on by almost everyone in Europe,” he said.

That European gig took him to Belgium, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Finland and Poland where he taught dance classes.

Ovamarz, whose given name is Marlon Hardy, founded the Above A Dem Dance Group in 2008. A year later, the group was awarded Stone Love’s Best New Dance Group trophy. He is

the creator /choreographer of dance steps, including Conquer Dem, Nuh Linga and Nuh Behaviour.