Representing a national dance body is giving two De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) students invaluable exposure and a say in the future of the sector.
Kadafi Mulula
Final-year Dance students Kadafi Mulula and Kian Crabtree have been chosen to act as ambassadors for One Dance UK, the support organisation leading the way to a stronger and more diverse sector.
Beating stiff competition, they join a hand-picked team of young people across the UK who will help to deliver One Dance UK activities at local and national level, while learning about varied career paths in dance and gaining a wealth of new skills and experience along the way.
For Kadafi, the role is particularly validating because studying dance meant making a difficult choice between his passion and his family. From a young age he played football, going from Sunday league to a two-year CTA Select Academy scholarship and playing against top professional youth sides.
The 21-year-old from Leeds said: “Despite my love for the game, dance made me realise my true passion in life. When I dance, I feel as though I belong and as though there is no expectation for me to be a certain way. Even though I was told I had potential in football, I decided to follow my heart.
“My dad wanted me to pursue my career in sport and because of my decision he no longer supports me. Dance has really opened my eyes though, so as much as my dad doesn’t understand it, I strive to do well so I can maybe open his eyes to what I see.
“I feel so blessed to be a One Dance UK ambassador and it’s given me a lot of self-belief. Not only do I get to be a role model for aspiring dancers, I’ll get opportunities to build up my own platform too.”
This is the second year running that Kian has been picked for the role, bringing with him a passion for choreography.
“Being a One Dance UK ambassador really broadens your skills and opens doors for you. One of my biggest worries about graduating this summer is about how I’ll survive in the sector, but the knowledge I’m gaining makes me feel a lot more prepared,” said the 20-year-old from Bradford.
“Advocating for dance through this role feels brilliant. I know how important representation was for me growing up, so if I manage to inspire just one person on this journey, then I’ll be really happy.”
Kian Crabtree
Both students are working hard to overcome the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic, navigating their ambassador roles and degree digitally due to national lockdown rules.
Kadafi said: “Despite Covid, this is shaping up to be a very fun and interesting experience for me, because I get to work with a passionate group of people who believe in dance as much as I do.
“My degree going online has been a challenge, but there’s no time to mourn what we’ve lost as we’ve had to adapt in a positive way. Learning online is a big barrier I’ve had to overcome, especially as I struggle with mirroring left and right movements, but it’s only making me a better dancer.”
Kian said: “As difficult as the situation has been, I like to focus on the bright side. We’re the first dancers of our generation to go through something like this and we can use it to our advantage.”
Enrolling at DMU without his family’s blessing was a daunting step for Kadafi.
“I had unconditional offers from other universities and dance schools, but when I came to DMU for my audition it was literally the life I was envisioning for myself. Everyone was so friendly and I just knew I was going to find my family here,” he said.
“It’s been everything I hoped for and more. Leicester has a brilliant dance scene, so as well as having amazing tutors and coursemates, I’ve had the best experiences through dancing and competing with DMU’s Hip Hop Society, the city’s Code Crew and lots more talented artists.”
Encouraged by school friends and teachers alike to attend a DMU Open Day, Kian knew immediately that it was the place for him.
He said: “From the very first year of the degree you get to work with a final-year student. That was a stand-out experience for me as it’s what got me interested in pursuing choreography.
“Being at DMU and having the freedom to create with movement is just amazing.”
Connect with Kian on
LinkedIn and
Instagram, or with
Kadafi on Instagram.
Posted on Monday 15 February 2021