B-girl Courtnae

Name, age, location?
Hey I’m Courtnae' Paul, I’m 19 years old and live in Durban.
 

Have you lived in S.A. all your life?
Ya, I’ve lived in Durban all my life.
 

How long have you been dancing for?
I’ve been dancing on and off for 8 years. I Started in a church dance group never thinking it would amount to anything. But once I was exposed to it more and more, my passion for it grew. I’ve only really been into breakdancing for the last 2 years.
 

What got you into breakdancing?
I have always been very athletic, and was a gymnast from a young age which is where my foundation like balance and strength come from. I got into it by being a dancer in a crew, and watching the b-boys and the way they move really inspired me. There's just something so amazing about seeing people do things that require such skill, patience and determination. Things that are extremely challenging have always been appealing to me.
 

Are you in a crew at the moment?
No I'm not. I used to be, but I got tired of being let down as it’s very hard to find guys that are completely commited to dance. People don’t pitch up to rehearsals or stick to what they say. Now I just hire the relevant dancers that are required for an event.
 

Have you danced in any battles before?
Yes I have been in a few, but nothing as formal as Masters of Rhythm - which I'm preparing for now. I’ve always been more of a comercial performer, doing shows, events and concerts such as; Akon, Pitbull and Jay Sean who I’ve opened for.
 

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years with regards to your dancing career?
I hope to still be dancing. I'm prone to injury, lol, but I'm hoping for more doors to open for the South African dance scene in general as it has plenty of room to grow. I just want dancers to be taken more seriously in this country. I also want to be able to encourage and influence dancers to keep the hip hop culture alive and growing, especially the females. In short, I see myself successful, graduated, and doing what I love.
 

What do you do during the day, study, work?
I'm a full time student, currently studying towards my Bcom degree at Varsity College, so it’s a matter of successfully balancing the two.
 

Do you have any other hobbies besides dancing?
Between my studies and dancing, I'm not left with much time. But I train a lot, I love learning new things, from fire dancing to trapeze on silk, I love relaxing, hanging out with friends, going out, and just doing what most kids my age do.
                               

Why do you feel there are so few female breakdancers in S.A.?
In S.A. the hip hop movement is dominated by males. We don't have many b-girls to follow and look up to here, so it’s difficult to try get into something without much inspiration. Breakdancing also requires so much more than a usual dance genre does (not to dub any styles down) as you are constantly lifting yourself and doing things that require strength, and as girls, we'r not exactly known for our strength, so guys have a greater physical advantage.
 

What keeps you motivated to dance, ‘cos it’s hard to make a living from an urban subculture in South Africa as you may know?
I’ve been lucky to have constant work here, but at times it can be quite challenging. I think it’s important for everyone to have some sort of a back up plan because S.A. hasn't developed the capability to pay people a monthly salary in the dance field. Hence the fact that I’m studying, so in the event of me getting injured, or just a lack of events to generate an income from, I'll have something to fall back on.

Even though I started dancing for the love of it, and will continue to dance regardless, money plays a part when we've worked and trained so hard to be great performers. Performers shouldn't be treated any less seriously than a lawyer or busniess man, because just like them, we've done our time to gain these skills. But at the end of it all, I love dancing, and that's enough to keep me motivated.
 

Who are you sponsored by at the moment?
Right now I'm sponsored by DC and Vitaminwater. DC is the perfect brand for me as they have really started to make a huge impact on the hip hop scene, especially in Durban, and its growing rapidly. DC clothing allows me to look good as well as feel comfortable. Vitaminwater is not your typical energy drink; it’s more of a lifestlye drink as you can drink it at all times, not just when you need an energy boost.
 

Do you have any up and coming shows where we can come watch you?
Things are a little quiet; I don't have any big shows lined up right now, just some small gigs and corporates, but who knows… I might just get my own show started.
 

Anything else you would like to say?
Just to everyone out there, keep doing what you’re doing to keep the hip hop culture alive. Dance is a universal language and I firmly believe that no matter how good you are, we can all learn from each other. You can find me on facebook @ Courtnae' Paul or follow me on twitter @ Courtnae_Paul