For a long time, while growing up in his hometown Bartica, Mikel Andrews was fascinated with the art of dance but settled for watching it on his television, as he did not have the courage to get involved. Today, he is a contemporary dancer who has been gracing numerous stages for the past seven years in and beyond the borders of Guyana.
“I was shy. I always wanted to dance during secondary school years but never got the courage to do so. This saddens me every time I think about it,” Mikel said in an interview with The Scene.
Mikel attended Bartica Secondary before he transferred to Three Miles Secondary School. Shortly after graduating, he moved to live on the West Coast Demerara, that was eight years ago. This led to him being more exposed to dance and a year later he signed up with the Classique Dance Company.
“Dancing was always a part of me. I just needed someone to give me that push, to help me make it happen,” Mikel related. “I remember passing the National Cultural Centre and seeing the signboard for an upcoming dance production… I stopped my car and noticing that it was for the Classique Dance Company, I bought two tickets hoping to take someone with me who wanted to go. Sadly, I went alone because I didn’t know anyone at Georgetown at the time. That night during the show I almost cried, because I saw something I had wanted my whole life, dance. I started stalking Classique until they advertised for intermediate dancers. When they did, I didn’t hesitate, I signed up immediately.
“I vividly remember being in the wings waiting for my turn to dance but I was so mesmerized by the choreography that I missed my cue to go onstage so instead of dancing I ended making a sort of dance pose at the end. I was so upset after.”
But while Mikel was still celebrating his good fortune of finally being able to do what he wanted, not everyone else was pleased. His mother had always wanted him to go to university, which he had wanted at one point in his life also. However, he decided against it since a degree or a certificate was not going to be worth it for him if he was going to end up doing something he did not like. What mattered more was following his dream, whether working backstage, doing choreography or performing. Whatever he chose to do he was going to enjoy doing.
In time his mother came around. She, along with his other family and close friends would become his biggest cheerleaders.
As a dancer, Mikel has face challenges where he felt discriminated against because of the stigma attached to men as dancers. In addition, this art form is not well paid for therefore it is really difficult for a dancer to make a living. However, his love for dance is greater than all challenges. One particular experience, he shared, taught him an important lesson. On one occasion a while back, Mikel and three other dancers signed up to participate in an event after agreeing to being paid a certain amount of money. They followed through on their part and at the end of the show, after deliberating for some six hours, Mikel and the other dancers were told by the organizers that they had no money to pay them. Nonetheless, the organizers went ahead and paid the international performers. That incident has taught the group to ensure all contracts are done on paper. Dancers are not appreciated as they should be especially in the local arena, Mikel said, noting that this may be one of the biggest negatives in the industry. While there are dancers who have the spotlight, there are those who have the talent, but no one knows about them. The dancer said too that Guyana has many talented individuals and he believes that if dance were introduced in all schools, they would come to be known.
It is important, Mikel said, that dancers warm up with stretches before they begin dancing as they could injure themselves. Aside from pulling a hamstring, he said there are some injuries that are so serious it would be difficult for one to be normal again. He was injured twice since he took up dancing.
Some may wonder whether dancers need to work out when being a dancer is an already active lifestyle, but dancers should workout to remain lean, Mikel noted, or better yet attend dance classes as often as possible; not only will they stay fit, but they will perfect their dance routines easier.
Asked how long it takes him to perfect a new style, Mikel said people learn at their own pace, it takes him just three sessions with a session being an hour. He often practices at the New Generation Dance Studio, a group he has been with for more than four years now since the dissolving of Classique. New Generation Dance Studio is headed by dancer and model Isaiah Luther.
The last seven years have seen the young dancer performing at various occasions in Guyana, the Caribbean and other countries such as Carifesta, Inter-Guianas Cultural Festival, and in countries like Barbados, Suriname, Haiti, French Guiana and Guadeloupe.
Mikel lists some of his inspirations as Mike Jack Jr and Yannick Lebrun both of whom are with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Hannahlei Cabanilla the winner of Season 15 of television show “So You Think You Can Dance”, as well as the late Alvin Ailey. “These people are so amazing at what they do,” Mikel noted. “They are a true reflection of what I’d like to be, of course, my own version. I wish Alvin was still alive. I would have wanted to sit and have coffee with him and ask him many questions. Questions on what it was like for him becoming such an amazing dancer, choreographer and activist.”
Mikel is currently working on an upcoming production with the New Generation Dance Studio slated for some time this year.
Aside from being a dancer, Mikel is also a Makeup Artist, another skill he hopes to advance in n the next decade by attending the famous Tom Savini Special Effects Makeup School so as to become a Prosthetic Makeup Artist. With regard to dancing, he does not know as yet where he will be, but he knows he will be more recognized internationally.
His favourite dish is pasta with meat.
He can be followed on Instagram @Mikel Andrews.
