SPECIAL FEATURE A boy’s dancing dream!
Dreaming of dancing
My dance career started at the tender age of three. In 2009, I watched Diversity perform and win Britain’s Got Talent, and said to my parents: “I want to do that and meet them.” On starting in Reception at Christ Church Primary School, Chelsea, I attended an after-school street dance class taught by Damien Anyasi, where he encouraged me to just move to the music. Damien prompted my parents to access street dance classes in Battersea. A school friend of mine told me of classes run by a group called Scariofunk. At Scariofunk I was extremely nervous at first, but the instructor, Conrad Senior, encouraged and managed to bring the performer in me to the surface. Within dance, it’s about being able to perform in shows or dance at competitions, and at Scariofunk they wanted to showcase the dancers in their summer show. This was the 38 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | W I N T E R 2 02 2
first time that I had performed on stage in front of an audience. At the show, one of the other dance teachers, Angelica Gayle (AKA Jelly), recommended to my parents that I should go to one of her friend’s dance crews, CocoJam. At CocoJam, I was introduced to the incredible Jade Hackett - I call her my dance mum. Not only is Jade an amazing dancer, performer and choreographer in her own right, she is an amazing person who has not only mentored, encouraged and inspired me to fulfil my dreams through dance, but also taught me important life skills. The advice that Jade gave me at such a young age has helped shape me into the person I am today, and for that I am so thankful. My time at CocoJam was so enjoyable. We trained hard, but the end results were amazing. Jade is so creative in the way she teaches and wanted us all to share her
IDNEY DE’ALMEIDA
One boy’s inspiring journey
