Let’s dance

With over 30 dance groups drawn from Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu converging in Nairobi to fight for slots in the inaugural Dance Awards last Saturday, it was a rhythmic tussle of creative minds and energy as Mkala Mwaghesha observed  

Don’t be mistaken! The latest dancing craze among Pulsers is more than mere musical body movement to the sound of pleasant music. Dancing is a cash-minting, job-creating urban lifestyle that has now embraced fashion and other trends to it — to create a cool craze.

In fact, it is the latest cool among teenagers; if what Pulse witnessed last Saturday — during the Kenya Dance Krews Awards (Kedaka) launch, is anything to go by.

One would be forgiven for imagining that the showcased snap backs, skinny fits, Mohawks and street lingo, at Nairobi Cinema, was an array of dancing troupes who fused their artistic skills to present a thrilling dancing encounter.

The event was a platform to sample Kenya’s numerous dancing groups as the new dancing awards nominations got underway.

This was a precursor to the dancing crews’ awards that will take place in Nairobi on December 11.

The emcees of the night, Maryanne Emmie and Robert Muhia, were on point as they oozed wit and chemistry on stage. The beautiful Emmie wore an urbane chic demeanour while Robert was the everyday sufferer, who ironically uses a tab.

DSI, Cheetaz6, Dafy, Unikk, Detour, Examples, Alpachino, Above Limits and Flames offered sizzling entertainment as they showcased their act before a frenzied crowd. Borrowing from diverse genre tones, the groups showcased creativity with their well-choreographed fusions.

Flash mob, a choreographed dance troupe that involved members from nearly all the dance crews, was the showstopper. The rendition of the internationally acclaimed Barlow Girl’s Porcelain Heart, by the Saintz Dance group, also left the audience in cheers.    

And in the midst of the dancing and singing performances, the nominees for the 15 categories up for grabs were called out with the voting codes assigned.

New singing talents among them Guardian Angel, Mr Raga and SOC had their moment on stage before popular stars Willy Paul and Kevo Yout arrived to set the performances to grand climax.

 “It is high time that Kenyans appreciated dance as they have other arts,” said Douglas Maina, CEO of Perskys Entertainment, the stable behind the awards.

“This is the inaugural dancing awards in Kenya. Ours is to appreciate the great variety of art in supporting the dance groups through different winners’ offers,” he added.