Meaning
To liven up the party and make the vibe sweet — to bring good energy so that everyone enjoys themselves. A selector or an artist who 'nice up di dance' keeps the crowd happy, moving, and caught up in the moment, lifting the whole atmosphere of the session. Built on 'nice' as a verb, the phrase names the art of raising and sweetening the mood of a gathering, and to be told you 'nice up di dance' is warm praise for anyone who brings life and joy to a party.
Examples
-
Selecta, nice up di dance!
DJ, liven up the party!
-
Dat song nice up di whole session.
That song lifted the whole party.
-
Wi deh yah fi nice up di dance.
We're here to make the party sweet.
Origin
From 'nice' used as a verb — to make nice or pleasant — plus 'up', a common Patois intensifier, applied to the dance or party.
How it’s used
A warm, positive call, popularised by a well-known reggae anthem. The opposite of mashing up in a bad sense.