Trini dancer Gladdest takes centre stage in Jamaica

Haddyah 'Gladdest' Cyrus is a 19-year-old dancer making waves on the dance scene.

Despite hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, her skills extend beyond the influences of the twin islands' native musical genres of soca and calypso. She has taken her talent to various islands, currently finding herself in Jamaica, which she fondly refers to as the 'Land of Music and Dance'.

Gladdest acknowledged her versatility as a dancer, with particular affinities for dancehall and Afro sounds that contribute to her distinct style. Highlighting her fondness for the dancehall genre, she expressed admiration for its energy, noting that she has seamlessly adapted to it, to the point where people have mistakenly assumed she is Jamaican. Despite her specialisation, she maintains an adaptable approach, readily picking up challenging moves with agility. This quick learning ability, she attributes to her open-mindedness as a dancer.

Gladdest has promoted her work on Instagram and TikTok, where she can be seen performing choreographies in public.

"Jamaicans, like Trinidadians, give the surprise look when I perform in public, like 'What is this girl doing'?" she told THE WEEKEND STAR. However, she asserted that she remains unfazed by such reactions, citing her courage and confidence. She believes that onlookers are experiencing 99 per cent joy while watching her, further solidifying her resilience to any potential misconceptions or assumptions.

During her time on the island, Gladdest has engaged in collaborations with local dancers who are considered 'trendsetters', including KaKa High Flames and the Tanda Twinz. However, she highlighted her collaboration with Nick Overload as being different, because they danced to a traditional dancehall song by Vybz Kartel.

"It brought a different vibes and told a story. Plus, we dressed the part for the song and all that," Gladdest said.

Apart from collaborating with local talents, Gladdest's social media presence has experienced growth since her time in Jamaica. Managed by Content King Creations, she has secured bookings, contracts, and deals with clothing and drink brands, both from local and international sponsors, while on the island.

Gladdest encouraged both aspiring and established dancers, advising them to, "Never give up, even though you might get the side eye. And, keep glad".