Jina langu ni Linus Okok (DADDY the dancer)
Your name and what do you do?
My name is Linus Okok( DADDY the dancer). I am a Choreographer, a dance director & a Dancer.
What is your earliest memory of dance?
I was eleven when I went on stage for the first time. That was way back in2006. I’ll never forget that day.
Was there a moment you realized that dance was going to be a significant and important part of your life?
Yes!!! I remember back in 2015 I choreographed & directed a dance for a certain college here in Mombasa. The school performed well & reached the national level in the Kenya National Drama Festivals College category. After the competition, the school offered me a scholarship, and that’s how I joined college. Since then, I realized DANCE was going to be a significant & important part of my life.
Tell us about your style of dancing? How often do you practice?
I have based in lyrical theatrical dance. This is a style whereby, the dancer tells a story through emotions & movements instead of words. I practice everyday at least 4hrs a day.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get inspiration from the music I listen to as a dancer, music can either BUILD or DESTROY you. In most cases music has led me into creating choreography. From the lyrics, composition, arrangement and emotion, Good music has a way of inspiring people. You can tell a singer’s’ emotion by listening to his/her music & those are the same emotions, the dancer is supposed to transfer to his/her audience. There are music that puts you right in the mood of creation.
Do you think artists in Mombasa are well branded?
No, they are inactive in social media where they should be engaging their followers daily and creating anticipation of what to expect from them and promote their current work, but they barely do so.
Most creatives in Mombasa are not paid for their Art, what do you think we should do to eliminate this issue so artists can be paid for their work?
Simple!!! Only two things required.
1). No artist should ever go on stage without an agreement/contract.
2)Artist shld be educated on the difference between showbiz & talent business.We have great talents in coast but our artist aren’t enlightened enough on the business part of it.Your talent shld be your business.
If you were given resources to create space and options for Artist, what would you do?
I would build schools & institutions for art, and no artist would go on stage without papers, whether talented or not. If a lawyer attends law school and a doctor attends medical school, why shouldn’t an artist attend an art school? Also make sure artists royalties are paid on time, media houses should play 60% local content.
Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
In ten years?…I see myself as a lecturer in a leading University, teaching Art.(Theatre & performing arts)
Parting shot
Dance is poetry. If it doesn’t speak for itself,then it makes no sense.
