Dancer ditches Germany for Jamaica - Laura Zacharias living the dancehall dream

Germany-born dancer Laura Zacharias has traded Europe for Jamaica, diving headfirst into the vibrant world of dancehall and Jamaican dance culture. Leaving Germany behind, Zacharias relocated to Kingston nearly two years ago to chase her dream of dancing and choreography.

Her journey from Germany to Kingston is more than just a tale of a dancer following her passion; it is a story of cultural exchange and the universal language of dance.

Zacharias, who is featured in the music video for 450's remixed track Bad Gyal, featuring NLE Choppa, said her passion for Jamaican music developed during her teenage years.

"I started dancing excessively in my teenage years, every weekend possible, partying to ska, reggae, and punk rock, followed by electronic styles like dubstep, drum and bass, and trance. I was a raver, and dancehall and reggae were always in the mix, but not in the focus," she shared.

"After I dived into trap, Latin trap, and reggaeton, I then discovered Afrobeats. In Vienna (Austria), I moved with the Afro and Caribbean community and felt very empowered through music and dance culture. This is one of the main reasons why I moved to Jamaica in December 2022 with my kids, and I never looked back," she added.

One of the factors that drew her to Jamaican was the vibrancy of the country's dancehall culture, which complements her personality.

"I particularly like the sensuality. I'm a loud person, and I think Jamaican dance culture is louder than most. It's very raw and very blunt, and I appreciate that. I think it's just the beautiful mess that is life. As human beings, we should be able to enjoy our physicality, which is not very prevalent in modern European cultures. My femininity and self-esteem get a quick boost with dancehall culture," she shared.

To immerse herself in Jamaican culture, she attended local dance classes, participated in community events, and engaged with the dancehall scene by attending parties and connecting with local dancers and choreographers.

"I'm also working on my own classes, which will be different. I'm working on performances, and I also do tribal dances related to belly dance," she added.