This archive report was first published on 3 August 2019.
The young dancer chasing his wildest dream ¶
Published on August 3, 2019
Sylvester Nandi, a young dancer from Baba Dogo, Nairobi, is chasing his dream of becoming a professional dancer despite the challenges he faces in Kenya's conservative society.
Mr. Nandi, who goes by the stage name Poppin Silk, started dancing at a young age and was fascinated by the 'popping' style, which originated in the late 1960s and 1970s. He would dance in front of his classmates and neighbors, who would often gather to watch him.
As he grew older, Mr. Nandi's passion for dancing only intensified, and he decided to drop out of school to pursue his dream. He joined a dancing group in high school but soon found himself struggling to make ends meet.
With the help of a dancing studio in Westlands, Mr. Nandi was able to hone his skills and gain confidence in his abilities. He started performing at events, whether he got paid or not, and eventually found a job at a cyber cafe in Baba Dogo.
Despite the challenges he faces, Mr. Nandi remains determined to achieve his dream of becoming a professional dancer. He has been learning more about popping dance and new moves from celebrated popping dancers and has even started shooting videos of his performances and uploading them on the internet.
Mr. Nandi's ultimate goal is to share big podiums with hip-hop artists and other dancers. He is currently working on a project with a popper from Peru called Benjy Narazas, where they will be holding an event for popping dancers. However, he needs to raise at least Ksh30,000 to make the project a success.
With the support of his parents and the encouragement of his peers, Mr. Nandi is on his way to achieving his dream of becoming a professional dancer.
