POPULAR TIKTOKER & DANCER QUINCY ICON! GOES INTERNATIONAL! SET TO TOUR EAST AFRICA

In a world full of power, mini nito-presenter Ali, Your Entertainment PLA is always for amazing days. Natia, I'm here to share some stories, the usual mix of drama and, of course, today I'm joined by none other than Quincy Icon. Faith is not just a story; it's the power to believe even when you've never seen it, like a person who has never been to the sea yet still believes in its existence. That's Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, it became a platform for his videos. That's why I'm looking for a child, you're the story. What's your name, child? Kofreshi. Kofreshi? Good to see you. Nukafreshi? Good. We try. What's wrong? It's enough. What are you saying, Kazi? Coffee break. Let's try, let's cooperate. Yeah. Who is Quincy, the first time I saw him, I didn't recognize him or know who he was? Quincy Icon Tell us about yourself. My name is Quincy Icon. I am a dance choreographer, dance ambassador. I am a content creator based in Nairobi. Yes. Amazing to me. The thing on your bar is to check, I think the first thing that comes to mind is dancehall. Yes. Why dancehall? Dancehall is my life. Literally, yes. I live dancehall. I eat dancehall. Everything I do is dancehall. Dancehall is a culture I have learned, and it stays with me. It is within me. So, yeah. Certainly. When was your first interaction with dancehall, which made you fall in love? 2019 Because when I started dancing, siku wanza wasn't dancehall. Liliku does these Afro things, why hip hop? When I was starting to dance, I was very much discouraged. But when I discovered dancehall, I fell in love too. Like I like you, my dear. I like it too. Yes. But looking at many dancers, you know, they are doing the creating thing. Most awa jaji base like an Afro, most wanasemaga just mini dancers. What made you decide on mbamimi or dancehall? Mimi is standing. Are you really doing these things, or are you just pretending to be a dancehall artist? Last night, I did an Afro dance, I collaborated with Afro dancers. But my identity is dancehall. Like when you see Quincy, you know it's dancehall. That's something else. Nime, like I've created myself and my brand to be within, and the foundation is dancehall. My identity is that one. Exactly. Yeah. Many content creators who do dance. They use social media, you know, to just promote whatever they're doing. But for you, I'm looking at you as someone who. As much as you're showcasing dance, you've also incorporated it into your business since you do choreography. Tell us about it. So, I teach dance. I have dance classes. So, Kuna dance, the fun part of dancing, is the Kuna dance business. The only thing I literally do is dance. That's my work, there's my work. My job is sweet. How much is the rent? So, there's the business side of dance that Nime has established. Whereby Unapata, I've created a brand where I'm collaborating with artists. I'm taking dance classes. Traveling, literally, because of dance. So, business people too. As a choreographer, of course, easy styles. I don't know, you think of them, you see them somewhere. I don't know, brother, let me ask you. Looking at you, kuna style nezono umefanya. I'm like, oh, this is nice. That style teaches a person. Nikomba, do your research—so what exactly happens? Yes, I do research. There is a difference between a dance choreographer and a dance creator. I'm not a dance creator. Dance creators, focus on something else. Creating dance takes a great deal. A lot of... Kushindo would think, like, coming up with those styles isn't easy. But I do my research, and I see... I follow many Jamaican dancers, as well as local Afro dancers. That's where I, like, develop my skill. So, when I look at what they're doing, and what people are creating out there, That's when I sit down and come up with a choreography. So... Mimi, I'm not a dance choreographer. All the dances I've done, I can't say that I created this dance or that dance. No. But I create choreographies. Which is a compilation of all the steps created by various people? into fusing it with the music, And in a moment, you'll realize what you truly desire. Do you see yourself, perhaps in the future, creating dance? With the grace of God. It will come. But dancehall is a lot. I think that to be a dance creator, it requires you to be deeply immersed in, especially the culture as a dancehall dancer. I need to travel to Jamaica. I need to go and live with people. I see how they are living. Where they are. For me to reach a point where I'm creating a dancehall step, It will require a lot. You need to have the culture within you, To be able to do that. But I want us to understand, because there are not so many of you Who are in dancehall. I think, I don't know about you, But you just decided to go with dancehall. Do you find it hard to make people believe in dancehall? It's really tough here. especially in Africa. Because when you think of dancehall, You think of fireworks, right? Exactly. But there's an entire world of dancehall. There is another world. When you understand culture, It's broad. That's exactly what I'm trying to do. I have a company called Dancehall Connect. I'm trying to educate people that dancehall is broad. It's not just twerking. Dancehall music, it's not about that. It's a lot. There's a lot in it. So there's a lot to do, especially as a female dancer Dancehall dancer here. For people to actually take you seriously, It takes a lot. But when I brand myself and everything, It makes things quite easy. for people to respect you and see, Whatever this person is doing is different. And it's something that We can all enjoy. How do people connect with you? to get to your classes? Social media You can reach out to me on my Instagram. I always reply. Don't go too high. I need to do this. There's a lot of hype in the DMs. The crucial ones you overlook. But if you're reaching out to someone, Get to the point directly. Because this person doesn't know you. So, tell them about your agenda. Like, Quincy, I'm so sorry. From somewhere, and I really want to take your classes. I'm open. I have classes. You can't even miss a class. Exactly. I also want to know a few collaborations you've done which are international Tell us about them. starting with the one you did with Angel Nyigu when she arrived in Kenya. So, I've done like six international dance collaborations, workshops I have hosted Angel Nyigu from Tanzania. Izzy Odigie from Nigeria Nandala from Uganda Esther from Uganda Bruce from Sweden. I have a class today. with a guy from Nigeria. He's called Lil Smart. So, I've done a lot of international dance collaborations of which This is something that as has happened before It's not as emphasized as I'm trying to make it right now. Because it's now putting The Kenyan dance industry on the map. Because those workshops have helped me. I have a very huge fan base right now in Nigeria. I have a massive fan base. in Tanzania, in Jamaica In the States. So, they help a lot. Those are the ones I've done dance collaborations Most of these collaborations Do they reach out? Or does any work? Actually, the ones I've done so far are the ones who have reached out because of the work they've seen me do. Like, the first ones I did with Angel so, connecting with someone like how I'm doing this interview that you're doing, you have a different more fans than I do. So, there's someone Who will see me from your channel? and will want to work with me. That's what I've been doing. I'm done with Angel. So, Izia saw me and said, "Let me reach out." to Quincy because Iтен to Kenya. Just as Nandala saw me, he was like I'm going to Kenya, let me get in touch with Quincy because I've seen Quincy doing this. So, most of them have been getting in touch. Actually, all of them I've done so far. Yeah. How challenging is it when it comes to preparing someone to come and do this workshop, Meeting people? Tell us about that process. from interacting with someone to coming and doing the workshop. Talking is easy. When we talk, we connect. It's very easy. Execution is difficult because That's the hard part. When someone comes, you need tickets, accommodation, all these things. So, it depends on how you've prepared yourself. So, It's hard. Sometimes, but By the grace of God, we have been sufficient. We have been able to do it in a way that It has been possible because All these dancers I've hosted They're superstars, but No one has told me, I want to stay at a five-star hotel; I want to do all of this. No, we're connecting with dancers and also the dance economy here in Kenya. It's paying as much as much if you're an individual dancer. So, that's something. people understand, but also bringing brands and partners on board helps Trying to level up to a point where Brands understand what you're doing. and they Reach out and sponsor you. So far, it's been good. When you talk about brands, I think one of the biggest brands I've seen that you've worked with It's Coca-Cola. How was it for you to get that huge deal? It was really nice. And it was very humbling for me. Being part of the brand ambassadors for Coke as a dancer It has raised me to a whole new level. and another level and It's been good, I'd like to say. They saw my work And they liked what I was doing. So they wanted to get involved, and we've been working together. It's been nice, really nice. Another experience of content creation So, it's been good. Do you want me to go back? No, it's okay. When we talk about classes, when people are interested in What are they? What time? Public classes, once a month for the workshops but there are private classes I do so if you follow me on Instagram You'll see all the updates. because when I have a class, I usually post I tell people I usually do a public class workshop once a month so you reach out If you see it, come through. You also told me that you are planning to do An East African tour so I'm planning to have my tour It's an East African tour visiting five countries. which is Uganda, Tanzania Rwanda, Burundi, and finally back home here in Kenya so this tour is The point and the aim of my tour is to unite the East African dance scene and they can also see us You know there are dancers in Rwanda. dancers from Kenya so it's basically uniting the East African Community not just that, Africa as a whole because Africa can also be seen so The point and the aim is to truly connect. the community, trying to elaborate further as well to help anyone out there who feels like dance can't really take you anywhere, it really can I'm going to teach; I'm conducting media tours. in all these countries so starting next month 24th is the class I'm taking in Uganda September 24th and then Tanzania next So you're ready? You have the choreographies. in all those countries I have been ready. Even if I go to Uganda right now, I'm ready. Do the class, I'm already prepped. For everything, I have my hosts on the ground. waiting for me It's a matter of just going now. So I'm ready to go. exactly Amazing, when we talk about these classes Can anyone tell us? Is it affordable? It's very affordable. It's very affordable for my public classes. It's just KSh 1,000. So it's very affordable. Just come. It's KSh 1000 So you're coming to class next year? Today? afternoon? So I can dance? What I can do is I can give a fan a ticket. Maybe for your next class because by the time I'll be uploading this video You understand? So I'll give a fan a gift, so what you do is DM Quincy Tell him why you deserve that ticket. That's all I'll give him the ticket. for sure right now After the interview, I'll do that. So someone DMs you Tell him why he deserves your interview. then you choose from among the people who will send you a direct message to dance for me Everyone can dance. That's what you people always say. but on the ground Okay, I know myself. Let me tell you, even I when I started I didn't know I started dancing because I was depressed. I had two left feet I didn't know. since we have no feet at all you have You have feet, literally. so if I can Everyone can because at first I didn't know I learned I had to train myself from nothing I couldn't move. my arms and legs couldn't coordinate I couldn't even fart. That's a special case. but You learn everything that you put your mind into You can do it. If I become a presenter I will be famous. everything you put your mind into you can achieve that brings me to when we come to the question I was about to ask you There are many people who would love to dance. but they are merely out of fear out of discouragement What can you tell them? Don't be afraid because the biggest critic Even I know now the only person who can bring you down yourself I have criticized myself. I know the kind of positions I'm in My mind is already there. but don't be afraid of what people will say by the end of the day Everyone is living their own lives. Don't be afraid Other people are moving. You need to take that step. because if I hadn't started I wouldn't be here I have stepped onto international stages performed with international artists and if I hadn't started I wouldn't have been here and I believed in myself People criticized me. I used to laugh while dancing. because I couldn't It's tough. when you dance in front of people They laugh at you. but I said to myself I will learn. I take time for myself when I have the chance I go and learn I see things online YouTube helped a lot. I see moves on YouTube I try to learn I raised myself. I still can't do it even now There's this person who pushed me to do this. There's no one. because if you're not going to do it for yourself No one is coming to save you. So just get up and do it Don't be afraid of anyone amazing I received a story with Quincy Icon You can check him out on Instagram. Quincy underscore icon You were born an icon I am an icon I survive on Twitter every day. I know amazing What is your message to your friends? Who supports you every day I appreciate the support. I appreciate the love That's what made me who I am. If I hadn't received that love I wouldn't be here I wouldn't be doing what I am doing now I appreciate everyone who supports me everyone who shares my content Trust me, it means a lot. everyone who comes through for my classes everyone who has reached out one way or another financially, everywhere Anyone who has touched my career Thank you, and I appreciate all of you. I hope you can see me now Just hope on my journey Welcome to the Icon family Amazing, that was it I have been talking to Quincy Icon. I am Representative Ali Shout out to my big brother behind the camera director captain I love you all I'll see you all in the next video.