#4 The 3Ds: The Dancing Three Musketeers
There's not enough time and dancers need constant rehearsals and practice but then we try to balance it out... quitting is not part of my plan... Dancing is part of life
Hi, Thank you for joining us this week. Unlike previous issues where we spoke to individuals, this week, we spoke to a group of student dancers called “The 3Ds” and they shared with us their journey and experience as dancers so far. We hope you enjoy and learn from this conversation.
L-R: Morgan, Jerry, Damilola
Can we meet you?
J: My name is Jerry.
M: I am Morgan.
D: I am Damilola and we're the 3Ds, a group of dancers made up of the 3 of us.
How did you guys get started with dancing?
M: Personally, I started dancing at the age of 14, I watched some people dance, and it was the first time I saw a live dance performance, I fell in love straight up and I made it clear to myself that I will meet these people I'm seeing one day through dancing and I've been able to achieve that.
J: For me, it was a church, I saw a dance ministration and I was proud of it, I was so touched. The next day I told them I wanted to join them, so from there, I started enjoying the vibes, I was into it and I was like, I think this is my passion, this is what I'm meant for.
D: I've always liked dancing, I watch videos a lot and I like dance videos. I watched some people dancing and I was like, okay, yeah I know I can do this, and I can do better and I've always strived to be a better dancer.
How did you guys come about forming this group?
M: I started dancing first and carried my younger brother [side eyes] Jerry along, then we met our last born [laughs] Dami, he's the last born of the house. That's how we started and the bond was just there. You know there's a kind of bond in which once you do something with somebody, you keep connecting with that same person.
Being a dancer alone requires practice which takes time and energy. How do you merge and manage dancing and school together?
J: It's quite tough but it is just about time management. Time management is very important. We have to schedule our time, that is, we set a time for school work and set a time for dance practice. It has to do with balancing, you need to know what the school timetable is, for example, we currently don't have a set timetable but Saturdays and Sundays are free so we are free for practice and we just have to make use of it well.
What are some of the challenges you face as a student dancer?
D: okay... back on this time issue, there's not enough time and dancers need constant rehearsals and practice but then we try to balance it out as Jerry has said, which is not always easy. There are times it takes a toll on our academic work, which is why we tend to be more serious than the average student, we put more time into our books and a little more time going to classes. It takes a toll on us but we try to balance it out.
How do you handle this challenge?
3D: We try to manage our time well.
Is there a dance community in your school?
3D: Yes there is.
What is it like?
J: There is a dance community I cofounded here in Ife, and the main goal is to strengthen the bond and help each other in any way possible but it's like most dancers in Ife think nobody wants to support them, which is wrong. If we come together, we will see that there is much more we can do together as a community.
What is the creative process like when you want to dance to a new song or prepare for a performance?
M: Well!!! I feel the public want to see a new thing when a new song comes out, so when there's a new concept or dance in town, we take time to learn it and practice well so that we can bond with the audience because they want to see something that will amuse them, they need a wow factor and as dancers, we try to give them that by bringing a twist into the mix.
What are some of the tools you use as dancers?
J: We make use of a camera, speakers, costumes, props, transportation (when we need to move from one location to another), and a good location.
How did Covid-19 impact your group?
J: Interestingly, it was the period we officially started 3D because we stayed together for the whole period and were steady on the low running rehearsals back to back, and we have come to know each other weaknesses and strengths, so Covid-19 helped us know our individual abilities well. Also during that time, we learned so many dance skills, stunts, and movements we incorporate into our performance. So largely it has been positive but not without the negative side too.
M: On the negative side, Omo!!! It felt like we were the only ones in this world at the time because in our area, we were the only ones around but we thank God, he was with us.
As a dancer, have you ever like quitting?
J: Aaah, personally, YES, but it was before getting into school. I was learning dance from one of my instructors and he came to me and said, “What have you been dancing?” He insulted me and said I should quit. He asked me to go home to read and quit dance. So I went back home and thought about quitting and then I met Morgan. I went to his place and saw him dancing and decided to join him and from there started pushing and said to myself that my former instructor was wrong about me and right now, quitting is not part of my plan.
M: Dancing is part of life, I've never felt like quitting.
D: Dancing is part of life, I don't even think about it. Why will I quit? I can't even quit. How do I want to quit? If I'm walking on the road I dance.
J: Dancing is now a part of me. It's in my spirit.
What project(s) are you most proud of as a group
J: Sicko, Fierce, and the workshop we organized; Express.
D: That was like the littest, if there is a word like that, I mean, litty litty.
M: It was lit, it was fire.
When it comes to dancing, How do you stay creative? How do you keep the creative juice flowing?
D: Well... Creativity never ends, you can only limit yourself to what you think about. When we listen to different music and different songs, we think of different ways to express them. We don't like doing what everybody is doing, so we try to do something unique.
What do you do for fun?
3D: [chorus] Swim!!! We sabi swim 😄
D: I play football and I play video games too
J: I don't play video games but I draw.
Who are some of the creatives that inspire you?
IKENNA, CALLISTUSFLY, ANTHONY LEE, AMARI, KINJAZ, JABBAWOCKEEZ, there are a lot of them
Who is the creative you look forward to collaborating with on a project?
What brand would you love to work on a project for?
3D: Nike or any clothing/fashion brand targeting dancers
What advice do you have for someone new to dancing?
M: If you're just getting started with dancing, I would advise you to get a mentor who is established, someone that can put you through because nowadays even if you can dance, they would just be watching you but with the proper relationship it will be easier. For example, if you work with or are under Ikenna, you're going places, there's no doubt about that. So, get a mentor.
J: My advice is, Don't stop!!! Once you start it will be rough. You will see other dancers doing crazy moves but don't stop, keep pushing. Consistency is key.
D: It has been said, Don't give up, there will surely be people that will be better than you, no matter where you get to, there will be people you will look up to. Even if you win a world dance competition, you can still improve so when you're just starting you don't look at people at the top and say you can never get there. They also started from somewhere. No matter what, just keep getting better.
How can people reach you?
You can follow us on Instagram Morgan, Jerry, Damilola
Alright, thank you for your time!!!
Takeaway nugget: The people you meet in life matters a lot and can be the difference between you giving up and persevering. Surround yourself with people that will keep you going in your creative journey.
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