Dancers' Paradise: Pretty Pretty wants to cement place in dancehall

Dancer Pretty Pretty is looking to cement her place as one of the hottest female dancers to come out of Jamaica.

The creator of Sticky Whine, a dance move that dominated much of the local dancehall scene throughout 2017, says that for 2018 and beyond, she is looking to take things to a higher level.

That higher level, she says, will take a lot more effort from her as she strives to create more memorable and lasting dance moves.

Pretty Pretty told Dancers' Paradise that it's one thing to be able to dance, but a whole different ball game to create dance moves.

"If I was just dancing and just dancing alone, people would be like, 'she bad enuh', but I wouldn't really have a big recognition. Building dances like Sticky Whine, where people know you because of it, is everything for a dancer," she said. "People don't even call me Pretty Pretty, dem call me Sticky Whine, and dem see me from a far. Maybe if the dance never bad and make an impact, dem wouldn't even know me."

Her career as a freelance dancer has been steadily rising. Since Sticky Whine, Pretty Pretty has transitioned to teaching weekly classes for persons interested in learning the latest dance moves.

Explaining how she attracts clientele, the dancer credits social media, pointing out that most of her students are from overseas.

GETTING A LOT OF LOVE

"My Instagram page is very important to my career at this point, especially where classes are concerned. People would DM (direct message) me and ask me for classes, so people from as far away as Columbia have come to my classes here," she said. "I set up classes based on the demand, so if someone messages me and say they're in Jamaica and want to learn some dances, I will work out a schedule. People have been showing me a lot of love. I have prices, but the cost depends on the number of persons for that day or if persons are coming as a package."

She did not disclose the cost of her classes, but says they offer an extra source of income, one she is grateful for.

For someone who initially did not see herself pursuing dance as a career, the entertainer said she is happy about her growth and is planning on taking classes at the Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts in the near future to expand her catalogue, as well as to get certified.

"My aim was always netball from me small come straight up because I still play. I've grown in dancing and I'm happy that I pursued it," she said. "I've always been dancing, but people never really recognise me until I became a BOOM Diva and started promoting myself as a dancer. I want to do so much more, now that I've grown, and Edna Manley is a possibility right now for me."