DANCE MY HE-ART MY PASSION

In the center of every art there is a heART that pumps creativity, innovation and diversity and I believe the muscles are strong on technic. The need therefore is to exercise more to equal the muscles and maximize them for  growth of skill.I always thought valentine was about love but as I have come to figure it’s all about big gifts, color red and quickies. yes! Think about it. They  are engraved in sweet nothings and poetic sms. While you are so glued to it i took time to envision a perfect love this must be my love for dance.

My passion has made me crazy-crazy in love, weak, strong, a little mix of both, I have lost battles, won some and I survived because am in love. I remember the first day I met dance like it was yesterday. I was weak and vulnerable, surprisingly comfortable with the situation and mis directed. I loved the illusion that I was a dancer and I made no effort to improve my otherwise naïve assumptions. I therefore, for a considerably long time, did the wrong movement and my friends praised me because my faking seemed real. I wasn’t happy. Coincidentally dance wasn’t happy too. She grilled me day and night pushed me to do something to improve our then current situation. Learn the right technic, attitude, get good teachers. I felt the need too but I procrastinated on numerous opportunities and so dance was mad. She threatened to leave me if I did not try to be real with myself and I thought she just needed a reason to leave me. I would give her one, I gave up, left her before she could walk away from me.

I GAVE UP, LEFT HER BEFORE SHE COULD WALK AWAY FROM ME!

I felt free and for a period I smiled all the way. I had a lot of time to spend with movies, class work , human friends .You would catch me on the pub getting my groove on, drinks on my tab and this made me so nocturnal. My night life was so alive probably because most of my friends were friends in the dark( I called them fun). They taught me to say yes to everything and to live without a purpose. I Exposed myself to insecurity and my health was daily regressing. My house from the ground floor was now very far away. The stair case was a constant reminder of  how weak I was becoming but fun would not let me have a moment to reason everything out. I missed a whole lot of class work in the name of rest , spent alot
of my money on medical bills and time offered no solace, no remorse. In fact time was so hard on me that I considered him my number one enemy. Always ticking, letting me suffer the consequences of my actions. Time you were so cruel and short of mercy. 

And so, as time would have it, fun left my side on claims that I was broke and I was not strong enough to keep up. Fun would check on me occasionally especially on weekends, and we would bond but I felt he was not a true friend.I boiled my anger to rebuilding myself and its true what goes around comes around because the doctor tells me my heart looks like a guy on a pike freeze...I had to start where I left my better life and so I headed to dance. She was so mad but I could tell she was ready to reconcile. Part of the deal was that I would practice each and every day to regain my health, be faithful and always keep my word. I don’t take it for granted and I have been good at it for a long time. We spend time always everyday without fail and you might think am crazy but I love dance and am glad she loves me back.

I LOVE DANCE AND AM GLAD SHE LOVES ME BACK

Who shares my love?

@NIJOWUPS-MY ROAD TO DETOUR DANCE CREW

JOHN NGUGI KAMAU

@nijowups: My name is john Ngugi Kamau, manager/patron and choreographer De’tour dance krew. I started detour dance crew alone from scratch but I can rest assure you it was a calling from God to make dance the alternative voice to speak his word-inspire , mentor and create hope through dance. I founded the crew in 2006 officially but I was dancing before that. prior to which I served in a flame fellowship where I was in charge of dance department in 2004-2005 Detour started in Gods hands then He placed it in my heart. my real calling, vision and prophecy though happened in different venues; one at xtreem weekend and the other in our main service Kahawa west Baptist church.God made it clear where he wanted me and the assignment to do dance differently(themed dances) was clear”

Laid back and very calm as he speaks Johny (as I usually call him) is a tough guy. He work constantly, consistently to be on top and that’s why talking to him is always insightful. He started a dancer and has survived the tough tides to become one of the most consistent dance leader I have come to know.

Why De'tour

The name detour means providing an alternative route to get to your destination which in this case is heaven. We perform dances that have a message in that our choice of songs and song arrangement in our mixes, though gospel, is unique and stands out.

We are a gospel dance crew based in kahawa west Baptist Church and started dancing in the year 2006. Since then we have won a few competitions which to us is just a reflection of the hard work we put in but most importantly that the God in us is appreciated through our performance because without Him you very well know this is not possible. 

2010 spa fest winners

2010 Talentmania winners

2011 spa fest winners

2012 mwafaka winners

2012 sakata dance show semi finalist

2013 sakata dance show quarter finalist

We are in a ship (DETOUR DANCE CREW) and we have the captain, vice captain, leaders and patron/managers as navigators. The other guys are the crew members on the ship. We have anchors ,life saver jackets ,the wheel and a lot more that help in the life, existence and stability of the ship. There also waves and ocean tides that derail us to a different course so we have to always make sure the ship is strong, fresh and re energized enough to stand and stay on course

DE'TOUR AT THE MR & MRS. NAZARENE UNIVERSITY 2014

I first met them during one of detour’s church concerts and I noticed they danced different. I mean their work can be seen in there dance, their thoughts and I must admit they are one of the crews who use props in every performance they do. Currently they are chasing the Spa fest title again and they are telling me they auditioned for the Dance unplugged showcase.

DANCE UNPLUGGED IV POSTER

2014-The year of unity

@Nijowups:We dance hip hop, expressive, African, house and salsa. We plan to create and expand our fanbase to be able to have the proper impact. We want to inspire people before they expire, give back to society and grow dance wise. Also unite Kahawa west dance crews.

what does dance mean to you?

Dance to me is an art that can take many forms of expression. Dance makes me feel I am serving and I am at home. Dance is action oriented and speaks, teaches and entertains just like the way they say a picture tells a thousand different stories, dance takes infinite form. Through its evolution from dancing full songs bila mix tapes or sound effects to the creative art it is right now .Dance is life, it tells a story- has an intro, body and conclusion. Dance makes life have meaning and heals. Dance Is heavenly created to bring happiness and love like David danced till his clothes fell off. Dance has no boundaries, dance does not have a religion, dance is not tribal, dance unites all -does not matter the age, race , location, rich, poor , dance creates and inspires.Dance makes life have meaning and it heals too.

we are seeing a lot of meaningless beefing!in its existence dance has created rivalries between crews and certain dancers.

@Nijowups: True!

What is wrong?

@Nijowups:A lot is being done wrongly. Lack of mentorship, lack of aunifying dance body to regulate the dance industry, dishonest leaders are just some of the factors that top the list. It does not make sense and we need to be united because we are not appreciating talent, we don’t have enough mentors and role models, lack of enough recognition, other artists and event managers taking advantage of dancers, we don’t have a regulatory body , we are divided and this being lead by dishonesty and lack of unity.

Is this why you want to unite Kahawa west dance crews?

@nijowups: one of the reasons why…

The others are?

@Nijowups: To help crews be professional, give away and teach what I know- to be all rounded and show them how  to deal with the corporate world, create a dance movement in kahawa west that will eventually affect others and have a dance body.

We ran a similar project last year to achieve the same and other projects of the same nature have been tried but have ended up not achieving. What do you want to do differently?

@Nijowups: start with the group leaders of every team, get to know why they dance because its useless if people are just dancing to kill time before they head to university and that’s why people did not buy our proposal because the dynamic of crew operations and individuals are different.so, I want to start from there, the problem was not what we proposed,the fact is not many crews have a vision, reason for dance , a time conscience , business development strategy  vs ministry  and a mature visionary leader.

Does this reflect into the whole dance industry or is the problem unique to kahawa west?

@Nijowups: that's a reflection of the dance industry in Kenya. Ask yourself how many dance crews have fallen? Both gospel and secular dance crews…unlike oversees people stop dance because of old age but in Kenya people dance to kill time then move to other more ‘serious’ careers thus making the turn over of dancers very high. This in effect kills consistence and experience.

Johny you are a great leader can’t wait to see you future projects.

Twitter: @nijowups, @detourkenya

Facebook :De'tour

Email:detourteam1@gmail.com