By: Boitumelo Mmakou
Brandon Grobler joined a crew in his hometown of Kempton Park over a decade ago as a hobby. Now, he lives off dancing and is the head choreographer and manager of Freeze Frame Crew finalists in SA’s Got Talent and winners of Red Bull Beat Battles 2014, among many other achievements. He chats to us about how he made it big.
How did your love for the dancing beginning?
I grew up surrounded by music and entertainments. These influences inspired me to get into dancing. I joined a break dancing crew. We called ourselves Freeze Frame because when you break dance, you look like you are frozen and framed.
You started as a break dancer, but have done much more since then. How would you define your style?
Freeze Frame’s fuses popping with break dancing, and mixes housing with krumping. We are expressive in our choreography. As head choreography, I always try to see the bigger picture. Although I started off as a break dancer, my style has evolved to all dance styles because I never want to limit myself. Other members of the crew do come up with routines and have an influence on what choreography works best for a particular performance.
Unfortunately dancing is not seen as a “real” job. You have broken this norm and still continue to dance despite this, how so?
When everyone else was leaving dance for “real jobs”, I stayed, because for me, it was more than just dancing. Dancing puts food on my table, it’s what keeps me going. My passion turned into my career.
Apart from working with Freeze Frame, what else do you do?
I teach dancing at various studios in Johannesburg. I also do national workshops. I have been the directing choreographer for various events, such as Cassper Nyovest’s #FillUptheDome. I also work as a marketing director my company, Zinto.We run campaigns and come up with creative ways to sell a brand mainly through the art of dancing.
What are the qualities a dance teacher and head choreographer should have?
You need to be someone with great communication skills, be open to learning from others and learning new things. Stand out and do things differently; no good leader ever made it by trying to be like others.
What are your thoughts that SA hip hop is an American?
I understand that people will make up their minds on what they don’t know; this is where the stereotype comes from. To avoid being that person, you need to do your research. It is sad that people say that when the art of hip-hop dancing began in Africa, but was commercialised by the Americans. Many artists still come to Africa to learn new moves that they spice up when they head back home. Instead of throwing insults, we need to embrace our moves.
How much money do you make as a dancer?
My basic salary per month is R20 000. I make more when there is more work. Any dancer can make that money if they are willing to work hard for it.
How can someone be a successful dancer?
Take yourself seriously, don’t allow yourself to be undermined by clients and you can do this by knowing your worth as a dancer. Create a good portfolio so that you are marketable. Do not be shy, learn to network and make friends with people in the industry. I always tell dancers to also join a crew, build your name within a crew and take it from there.
How does a crew become recognised as the best?
Apart from creating great choreography, you need to build strong members within the crew. Learn how to pick out the best in each other and use that to be the best.
Hip-hop dancing in SA has changed over the years. What are your thoughts on its evolution?
It used to be about the hype; no technique was needed for you to be considered the best dancer. Now you need to learn how to do your moves well, understand the dance, know your technique and illustrate it well.
Freeze Frame will be taking part in one of the biggest dance competitions in SA for the second time in a row.
We have an international mind-set when it comes to any dance performance we do. International crews take every dance performances seriously; they follow strict diets and heavy practice routines. We too have intense training done for all performances; this one will be no different. We take our training, networking and dance knowledge seriously. We have been practising every weekday for more than six hours. In addition to work and school, this has been hard, but we manage.
What should your fans expect from Freeze Frame at this weekend’s competition?
Expect a storytelling concept that will blow your mind. We set the standard last year; we want to see who will challenge us. We hope that through such competitions people understand the art of dance and its value to the arts and culture industry, we want to inspire others to also dance and help us grow the quality of dance in South Africa.
Redbull Beat Battles take place at Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown on 21 November.
