Dancers' Paradise: ‘Dancehall runs through my veins’ - Canada-born Chiffy looks to make big dancing impact

Twenty-nine-year-old Latoya Mcleod may be a nurse aide by profession, but her true passion is dancing. Declaring that dancing is in her blood, the Jamaican-Canadian says she has been dancing since before her birth.

“I was dancing from I was in the womb. My mom was six or seven months pregnant with me when she had won a dancing contest, and so my family and I always knew dancing was in my blood,” said the Canadian DHQ, who goes by the moniker ‘Chiffy’.

“I started dancing on my own at the age of two. I don’t know if it’s because my mother was so active while pregnant with me, but dancing was always something that just came natural. I was born in Canada, but my mother was born in Westmoreland and my father in St Mary, so dancehall has always been a part of me.

“I grew up on the music and fell in love with the vibrancy of the culture. During Christmas/New Year is when I would visit Jamaica every year, and I was the go-to person at every family function to entertain everyone when it comes to music and dancing,” Chiffy said.

“Entertaining people through dance is when I’m at my happiest, and I would love to one day make such a big thing of my passion that I can do it full-time,” she continued.

The nurse said that she is grateful that her job allows her the flexibility to focus a lot of her energy on dance.

“My hours are flexible. I can adjust my availability at any time, which makes it easier for me to balance my bookings. I have found the balance that allows me to do both very well. I can maintain my day job while slowly building the foundation for my future,” she said.

Chiffy has been steadily making her mark on the local and international dance scenes. She has made appearances in several music videos and has worked with numerous artistes, including Elephant Man, Sikka Rhymes, and Hitmaker. Chiffy is the creator of dance moves such as ‘Chifferson Whine’, ‘Chiffy Wuk’, ‘Ballerina Walk’ and ‘Bounce’.

“I may have been born in Canada, but my roots are Jamaican and dancehall runs through my veins. My future plan is definitely to have my own studio for all ages where I can not only teach dance but get people to have fun while building their confidence and making them feel good about themselves. Teaching classes the moves I create will be the most fulfilling thing I do,” she said.