Victory Akingbade, popularly known as Vicky Dancer, is the founder of Just Dance Entertainment. She has been a professional dancer for 12 years. The Theatre Arts graduate of the University of Benin, in this interview with www.angeladaviesblog.blogspot.com, reveals that dance is now very acceptable in Nigeria and it is what she does with ease. She also has some advice for aspiring professional dancers.
I am a professional choreographer and dance instructor. I run a registered dance group called ‘Just Dance Entertainment’ which consists of a group of professionals who are flexible, creative, charismatic and energetic.
What inspired you to go into dancing?
I will say what really inspired me to take dance as a profession was because I wanted to make a change through dance. A lot of Nigerian youths are talented but they are deluded. I felt I could be a change through dance. What I do is that I gather youths together and I make sure they are being rejuvenated for excellence through dance and seminars. I also have a programme called Pump Him All Praise (PIMP) where I bring in different professionals from various walks of life that have excelled in their career. They speak to these youths on how they can excel in life. Really, it is just to make a change.
Did your parents support your dance career?
I grew up in a home where they support you if you are doing something positive. Right from my childhood, my parents knew what I would become in future. When I was quite young, there was a prophecy that I was going to be great and all my parents needed to do was to support me.
However, when I began dancing and people that knew my parents started seeing me on the television, of course tongues started wagging because they believed that dancers are corrupt and this worried my mother. That was how it was back then. I am 12 years in my dance profession and it has been good, at least it is rewarding. My parents supported me, my father particularly.
Now that you are married, does your husband support your profession?
My husband has always been supportive. He is an artistically inclined person. He is into music too. He played for Hennessey artistry but he is just the kind of person that does not like to show himself. He is very good with drums and he is a music director in one of the Redeemed Christian Church of God parishes.
How would you rate dance right now in Nigeria?
Dance is magnetic and right now it is very acceptable in the country. Back then, once you say you are a dancer, they won’t take you seriously. There was this perception about dancers before now; nevertheless there were a few of us who were able to make change through dance like Kaffy and myself. Since we have been able to make a change through dance, some parents now encourage their children to take to dance.
I will say dance is very acceptable in Nigeria now as we have quite a number of dance reality programmes showing on television which are even sponsored by organisations.
How can one succeed in the dance profession in Nigeria?
I tell people that to succeed, they must avoid short cut. I tell them that you just don’t come out of the blues and say you are a dancer when you don’t understand what you are doing. I think most of the dancers need education and that is why I have a programme called ‘Dance with Vicky’. It is a medium where I educate, empower, entertain and encourage dancers.
A lot of female dancers, particularly, sometimes want to mess up themselves by sleeping with one so-called person because they want to dance in a show. I tell you we get reports and it is a pain in our hearts because dance is what we do. At least I am supporting my home through dance and it is what puts food on our table. It is disheartening when some female dancers create the impression that we all sleep our way just to perform at a show.
No dancer should go out and start fighting for shows, when your time comes you will get there. Kaffy is on top and I congratulate her a lot. When I go out people respect me because I do the right thing. We didn’t go through the short cut.
What is your unique selling point when it comes to dance?
What stands me out is my uniqueness in dance. I don’t do copyright, let me use that word. I try to be original. I am flexible, energetic and creative. Once I dash my foot against anything while performing, I turn it into a dance step instead of limping. The next day when I get to my rehearsal ground, I teach my students that dance step I originated from hitting my leg. Dance is something I do with ease.
I give room for criticism after my performance and I am corrigible that has been something that has kept me going. I also do a lot of burn outs through dance, especially for fat people. It is just for them to slim down through dance while having fun.
Define your style statement.
My style is simplicity. I like to be very simple and I really don’t go for names. I have always liked simplicity. Even when it comes to my costumes, I sketch them, then take to a good tailor, explain how I want it and they make it for me.
You wear dreads. How do you maintain it?
I actually had to change my look in 2010 to dreads because it is a bit free. I could lock my dread twice or once a month. Now there is dye on it, I am about locking it. It makes me feel free because I don’t need to comb my hair.
What advice do you have for aspiring dancers?
They need to be creative and original with their dance steps. Also they should not have it at the back of their minds that they must sleep their way to perform at shows or even to be recognised. You need to achieve excellence in creativity and by that I mean give yourself the opportunity to showcase what you have at any given time. This will encourage and motivate you. Once you are motivated, you will be energised to do more practice. Just be yourself
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