(1/2) “The film I’m thinking of is King of the Dancehall (2016) because several years ago it was my ultimate dream to become a background dancer. When I finished High school I immediately auditioned at Lucia Marthas and at the Amsterdam University of the Arts, but I wasn’t accepted. I tried again the year after, but again I wasn’t accepted. I had even done a pre-course in the year between the two auditions to perfect my dancing. For the pre-course, I had to do a final presentation performance, which was after I wasn’t accepted for the second time. During a choreography, I suddenly had to cry, because it felt like a goodbye to dancing. I was lost and I had no clue what to do. I always imagined myself becoming a dancer and now I probably had to go study and become a lawyer or an administrator. A year ago there was an opportunity to audition for a Dancehall crew. Me and my two girlfriends auditioned, but for some reason, I did not feel that comfortable in my skin so I wasn’t able to perfectly pick up the choreography and I ended up not being selected. My two friends were selected and I continued going to school and work. Next to that, I started taking DJ and photography classes at Studio West, which led to playing music at several parties and festivals, and to a photography exhibition at the Meervaart theatre in Amsterdam. It is called ‘Tru’.”
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Photo and story by Feargal Agard
