An undying connection to the beat of dance

In the aisles and pews of a church is where Professional Dancer Rene Blackman found his calling for the arts, at the impressionable age of fourteen with a group of his peers.

Over the past seventeen years his dance career spanning performing, teaching and training has included the Apostolic Teaching Center Dancers and the Gospelfest dancers which developed into the Praise Academy of Dance.  Rene credits this as where he began to grow technically.  However, in an effort to further improve on his techniques he also spent a year in New Jersey where he trained in different styles.

Rene expresses his joy of the arts through movement and creativity, coupled with the emotion and passion that exudes when he is creating and showcasing a masterpiece.  He commented on feeling a sense of peace and freedom when he is performing.

Just like any other performance art, Rene believes that the journey to success includes a holistic approach to a healthy regime which focuses on internal and external physical maintenance.

Dance has opened up many opportunities and experiences for Rene.  He has been invited to many places all over the world to perform, teach and choreograph, including Mozambique in South Africa. This has exposed him to various cultures and helped him to build a broad network.

Currently this former NCF dance intensive intern is one of the coordinators of the Summer Internship Programme and he has also opened his own dance company ‘Barefoot,’ where he offers dance classes with the hope of developing it into a full dance school.

Rene has an undying love for dance and he inspires his students and other aspiring dancers to stay committed, promising them that the blood, sweat and tears will be worth it in the end.