Since sharing my experience in dance on my post Why I love Dance I decided to get another perspective on the dance world. What better way to do it than interview some well experienced dancers?

Local dancer and choreographer, 25 year old Ditiro Kapeko aka “Ditroy” of Plan A Dance Academy and international group Buckkingdom shared some knowledge about dance.

How did you get started as a dancer and for how long have you been dancing?  

I have been dancing for 9 years.  I started in high school in 2009 where I mostly did it for fun. In 2014, I took it up professionally.

What do you want people to know about you as a dancer or ex-dancer?

I want people to know that I am a passionate creative and I’m on a mission to do something different with my classes.

How would you describe what you do or did? What dance style or styles do you do or teach?

I mostly focused on teaching hip hop in my classes. I prepare my routines  in a week in time for my classes that are held on Saturdays.

What is typical working day for you?

For me it involves stretches, eating a balanced workout diet and I just focus on watching dance videos to practice.

What does being a dancer entail? And how do you translate it into your work or the work you have done?

You have to have a passion and be willing to learn. I translate my work through getting inspiration and knowledge of anything related to dance.

What do you like and dislike about what you do?

Dance keeps me happy because I do what I love. I dislike how dance isn’t appreciated as much as other forms of entertainment and sports in Botswana.

How do you think you can improve on it or adapt to it?

I would say just to travel and learn from other people and mesh it into your own dance. I travel 3 times a year, where I’ve gone to Namibia in 2014 for a competition, Johannesburg and Durban.

I observed and learnt the work ethics of people in those places and adapted into my own dance style.

Has dance changed your life in any way? If so how has it shaped or changed you as a dancer and person?

It honestly kept me away from trouble especially at a young age and made me into the dancer I am today.

Are there any hardships you have faced in your journey as a dancer? How did you deal with them and overcome them?

It was not knowing how to package myself and handle business. I learnt how to do contracts, know what type of performer I was and just building my image and culture of dance.

Would you say it’s crucial to have an education or trained skills needed to become a dancer? Or can a passion for dance be something dancers without the privilege of disciplined training at specialized schools can pursue dance?

It is essential to learn marketing and all since I did business at school and it really assisted me in improving how I understand and handle business in terms of contracts and all.

Yeah definitely, everyone can pursue dance through their passion through joining workshops and whats available to them to pursue dance.

What are the main misconceptions people have about dance and what you do?

I think it would be that most especially in Botswana that dance is just viewed as a hobby and not a real job. Dance can be pursued as a job aside from just being a hobby.

What is the most rewarding in dance in your opinion?

Obviously getting paid as a dancer. As a choreographer it would be seeing my students improving and learning from what I teach.

Are there any events you have attended and performed in? What is it like watching events and performing in them?

I have competed in Krump competitions and B-boy events. Not being in a comfort zone brings a boost to me when I perform. When I watch other people dance, I get excited in seeing the different feeling and style they bring.

Did you make money when you started out or did you have to make money by other means to facilitate dance?

I wanted to keep learning to dance but at a certain point I wanted to make a living when I started getting exposure in shows and competitions.

I do make money through graphic design jobs I take and use the money I make to facilitate it for dance.

Is it worth doing dance for the money or the passion? Is there any difference in whether you dance for money or just for the passion for it?

I see no difference since I’m dancing with a passion but I do feel that there is a difference. When I danced for free, I did it for my personal benefit where I wasn’t scared to fail or experiment.

Now when I do it for money, I have to give the customers what they want and I can’t mess up or take risks.

Have you had any opportunities presented to you throughout your dance career? How did they come about and what did you feel?

I got to dance for Botswana Independence day celebrations. I got an email to be in it and felt thrilled that someone in the government recognized my work.

What is one of your goals to achieve in your dancer career right now?

I honestly want to make hip hop have a place in Botswana through my dance classes.

Any words of encouragement to a dancer having a hard time with lack of support or funding to keep them going?

I would just say to keep training, create content for yourself. Keep going and don’t give up.

Conclusion

Being a dancer is one fruitful journey you can take. Having some insight on how some dancers in Botswana navigate and grew is something to take away and start your own creative journey.

If you’re interested in following Ditroy’s social media; click here for Facebook and click here for his Instagram page. up to date with when his classes are on click here and here for the Buckkingdom page.