8 minute read

Dreaming of dancing

A boy’s dancing dream!

One boy’s inspiring journey

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 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

vision. The opportunities that Jade presented to her young dancers, including myself, were incredible; from shows, competitions and trips to “Ebitis ipsundiore earciis experum Lithuania, where CocoJam quam aborpossimi, won first place in the team, and I got 2nd place in my simil eumquiae. Atus solo (to name a few). It was rem vent. Quis et such an experience. Jade was always thinking ahead, and used to keep explaining about platuscius am eos ostiasit qui alique” the vision of hip-hop theatre.

Through Jade, many doors were opened with other dance companies and choreographers. I continued my training at CocoJam, but I also had the privilege of training, dancing and being part of the productions by Boy Blue Entertainment and Avant Garde. Both of these companies have taken street dance to another level in their own unique way. For Boy Blue Entertainment I danced at the Barbican Centre for the 10 year anniversary of their critically acclaimed show, Pied Piper. Whereas with Avant Garde, I initially was involved in a performance called The House, performed at the Queen’s House, Greenwich, and then became a member of the company aged 10. At both Boy Blue Entertainment and Avant Garde I gained so much knowledge of different styles, ways of moving and performing. This was down to the experience and quality of

“I was lucky enough to perform on stage at the British Summer Time at Hyde Park in front of 75,000 people dancing for Justin Bieber. To me, this was a dream come true for a then 10 year old boy from Battersea winning a YouTube competition” teachers attached to both companies, coupled with the fantastic dancers I was training with on a regular basis. There was one person at a particular company who had as much belief in me at such a tender age as Jade Hackett, and that individual was Tony Adigun, the creative force behind Avant Garde. Tony was such an inspiration for me, he challenged me in all aspects of my dance, movement and performing to take it to another level. Tony teaches in a way that is out of the box and pushes the dancers to find their inner creativity and fuses hip-hop with contemporary to create magic. I performed in one particular performance of Avant Garde’s adult company called Daer Skoob, when during the piece books were involved and I had to catch a book. Who does this in hip-hop? The genius: Tony Adigun, my dad in dance. In 2017, I was lucky enough to perform on stage at British Summer Time Hyde Park, dancing for Justin Bieber in front of 75,000 people. To me, this was a dream come true for a then 10 year old boy from Battersea winning a YouTube TURN TO PAGE 47 to read about Disney’s first plus-size heroine competition. I have also performed in front of Prince William and The Mayor of London. I »

continued my training with dance, and in 2019, once again through Jade Hackett, she encouraged me to audition for an upcoming show called Tales of a Turntable which was created by ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company. The show was to be performed over a two week period at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank. I had watched Jade Hackett perform in ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company shows and was in awe. My thoughts were: “I would like to do this.”

Time for the audition. I was nervous, but I took inspiration from the experience I had through the teachers who believed in me and inspired me, and yes, I got in. I was part of the ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company. The training for the show was fun and tiring but worthwhile when you see the reaction of the audience after every show. I joined the ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company when I was 12, and I am now 16, and this has been one of the most enjoyable times I have had in dance. I train every Saturday for 6 hours: 3 hours in the morning with ZYC (this is the youth company), and then 3 hours in the afternoon with ZAD (this is the academy of dance).

At ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company, the opportunities to perform are endless. In my time there, my eyes are opened to the potential in all aspects of dance from performing, choreography and developing as a person. This is achieved by the individuals that Kate Prince has within her company structure. As I have mentioned, we perform at ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company, and in October 2022, I had the opportunity to perform on stage at Sadlers Well Theatre with the adult company in the show, Mixtape, celebrating 20 years of ZooNation: The Kate Prince company. This was such an experience to share the stage with the original members of the company and with the new generation, including myself. I loved being able to re-do the shows I had previously watched and also performed in.

Each year, auditions are held for the company and we have to attend. In 2021, I lost my place, but I still carried on training with ZAD in the afternoons. I was at a low point and was considering my future with dance in general. One of the creative directors of ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company stepped in, the main man being Bradley Charles. Over the last year, Bradley has been a mentor, not just helping with dance, but aspects of daily life which has helped me focus once again on dance, plus my future goals. Bradley has encouraged me to push myself to attain my aspirations, maximise my skills and be myself whilst dancing, for which I am eternally grateful.

It was time to re-audition for ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company in 2022. I was very apprehensive, but I had lots of encouragement from people attached to the company, and my parents, who have always supported me. Yes, I got in. ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company not only teaches, improves and develops your dance, but I have found that they are much more than that. I have had the support, encouragement and belief that I can once again fulfil my dreams and aspirations. Would I have thought,

back in 2009, watching Diversity on Britain’s Got Talent, that I would be living my dream? The gratitude I have for all the teachers I have had and the other dancers that I have performed with is everlasting, but I have to give special thanks to a number of people and dance companies. I will start with Damien Anyasi who saw something in me at a young age; Conrad Senior, who just didn’t unlock the shy little boy, but also put some of the first street dance competitions on in London; Jelly, who saw a determined young boy and then passed him on to my dance mum, Jade Hackett, not just an inspiration on dance but my life! A big thanks to Boy Blue Entertainment and Avant Garde. Tony Adigun, who inspired me and welcomed me to his visions on performing, Diversity for showing me the way. I have met the boys on many occasions and have danced at their studios. Once again, I would like to thank one particular person who encouraged me to experience hip-hop theatre, and that is my dance mum Jade Hackett, as I am now in the place I am happiest, ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company.

My future goals include: getting into The Brit School for Sixth Form, performing in major shows, going on tours as a performer, doing hip-hop theatre and progressing into the adult ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company so I can inspire the next generation.“I was part of the ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company. The training for the show was fun and tiring but worthwhile when you see the reaction of the audience after every show.”

OLIVER STEWART, Aged 16

www.zoonation.co.uk/learning/zoonation-academy-ofdance/about-zad/

www.zoonation.co.uk/learning/zoonation-youthcompany/zyc-london/

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