TWO SATURDAY NIGHTS AGO patrons were transported to Cuba with the carefree, cheeky cha-cha, then they were off to Brazil with a steamy samba dance.
They went back to Cuba with the arousing rumba dance, where the man was lured and rejected, and later they headed to Spain with the powerful paso doble – the bullfighting dance.
Finally, they were transported to the United States with the very fast, energy-consuming flicks and kicks associated with the jive.
Takiya Browne and Jamal Johnson illuminated this mesmerizing display and dramatisation with precision, presence, panache and purpose – they personified them all.
These two, who obviously seemed to have a special chemistry, were a delight to watch in their superb dance routines which saw them beating many-time champion
Mark Burgess and Caroline Mayers at the Barbados Dance Council’s Nationals 2011 in the Adult Latin category.
Jamal and Takiya have been doing this for a long time. Jamal, 21, has been dancing for ten years. His journey began in primary school when he was inspired by his teacher Grace Alleyne.
He then joined the Livy & Betty Alleyne Dance Centre.
Takiya, 23, comes from a family of dancers. Her aunt and uncle are the well-known dance instructors Livy and Betty Alleyne.
She used to dance before but seriously started at age 14. She did her associate degree in dance at the Barbados Community College, joined Dancin’ Africa six years ago and is now at the University of the West Indies where she majors in dance and theatre in the creative arts programme.
Practice makes perfect and because of their clashing schedules, Jamal and Takiya struggle to find matching practice times. Jamal has to come from St Lucy and Takiya from Warners Park, Christ Church. Practice is every weekend, for up to four hours.
“Balancing school and dance rehearsals [is] very hard,” says Takiya. “Every night I will have rehearsals. From class assignments, end of semester dance exams and to top it off practising for Latin and ballroom competitions and other performances such as around NIFCA time. It’s all about time management, so sometimes I have to work through the night.”Jamal’s sentiments are the same: “It’s hard to cope with work, school (pursuing a diploma in carpentry and joinery at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic) and dancing, but I manage to make it through slowly but surely.”
He has also pushed on through chest and back injuries. But both Jamal and Takiya have no regrets as they enjoy dancing.
And it has paid off. They have competed locally and internationally and walked away with positions such as Strictly Latin 2011 – second place; Legends Of The Floor 2011 – first place; Dance Stars 2011 – first place; and the last week, first place in the Nationals 2011 competition. They both agree that finishing in the international competition in Blackpool, England, in sixth place was their proudest moment so far.
They give each other equal praise in terms of techniques. Dance, say both, has taught them coordination, endurance, patience and persistence.
And for Jamal, it helps that he has cute partners to dance with.
While he doesn’t have a preference in the two genres, Takiya is leaning more toward the
Latin-flavoured dances. “Samba, more than the others, allows me to bring my Caribbean aesthetic to it. It is similar to calypso in terms of hip movements but samba has different timing and placements of hands and feet,” she pointed out.
But she doesn’t rule out ballroom and the waltz has a special place in her heart.
With full support from their mothers, who try to be at most of their performances, both wish to go further with their dancing.
Jamal sees himself still performing and teaching. Since dance is a career for Takiya, she would like to continue performing, become a professional teacher and one day own a studio.