Seatides dancer has a unique approach to dance

With a spring in his step, Seatides dance choreographer Iqraam Rahim aims to change the world of dancing one dance move at a time.

After studying dance in India, Rahim wanted to bring a new style to Durban dance and to use the art as a means to diminish the cultural divide in performance, as well as encourage personal growth.

“Durban is very cultural. You often find that the black dancers perform Zulu items, the white dancers do contemporary and the Indian dancers do classical. At the end of the show, they do one act together.

“This is not the South Africa we know. I’m trying to break that cultural identity. I teach the basics of everything with the foundation being Bollywood. Who said you have to be black to do a Zulu dance?

“I like to integrate local music into dance. Last year one school that I trained did an entire gumboot performance to a Bollywood song. This is what shows diversity.”

The talented dancer, who has choreographed many popular shows around the country including 2014’s SA’s Got Talent final, discovered his passion for dance when he was 16.

Despite challenges in the demand for dance, Rahim’s persistence and dedication saw him opening his own Ramage Dance Company in 2010.

His youngest dancers start from a mature seven but his oldest client so far was 73-years-old.

“When people come to my class I want them to be more than just a number and I do not only take ‘good’ dancers because for me dance is supposed to be a positive reinforcement to the other aspects of your life.

“My dance classes are linked to the school academic curriculum. For example, our junior class learned fractions and angles. It is about cognitive development.”

He said they use dance to socially integrate people.

“Things have changed and the academic system has somehow eroded social interaction. Once children finish school, they do not know how to work with people.”

Although the 31-year-old wished he had the opportunity to start his dance career straight out of school, he added that his degree has helped him in achieving success.

He one day hopes to open more branches around the country, while aiming to create a culture of dance that is unique to South Africa.

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