On The couch with Courtney Smith aka The Scott




Courtney "Scott" Smith, is a local street dancer from Wentworth, who dreams of one day  opening  dance academies all over the country. He believes that teaching youngsters the raw cultures of street dancing, will take away many of the negative perceptions many people have about street dancing. Southern Star caught up with  The Scott, just to find out a little bit more about what he wishes to achieve in the future.

 SS: When did your dance journey begin?
CS: Well, everything began when I was about twelve years old. I used to dance with my cousins, doing small imitations of Michael Jackson for our family. When we started getting a bit better at it, we were given the chance to do proper performances at weddings and stuff like that. I did that kind of stuff for a while. When I was in my Matric year of High School, I formed a duo with another aspiring dancer in my area and not long after that, we were both recruited to one of the Bluffs best crews Prime Effect. Since then, I have not stopped dancing.

 SS: What inspires you and keeps you motivated?
CS: Well, for me, being a dancer is staying true to yourself and what you believe in. When you watch dancers today, you can see that many of them are forgetting the true meaning of dance and the competition is defeating the art form. I specialise in Popping and Locking and when dancers, local and oversees perform I can see that they are doing the same thing over and over again and nothing new is coming up, where as if you stayed true to what you do and how you feel, you will be overflowing with new movements and steps, so being me and believing in myself is what motivates me.

 SS: What is the best thing about street dancing?
CS: Well the best thing about it is the fact that you are able to do anything you want. Your emotions dictate your moves and every move you make is part of dancing, every thing you do is part of music and dancing, believe it or not.

 SS: Have you been given any nicknames by fellow dancers of your fans ?
CS: No, not really, I've been called Scott since high school and the name has just stuck. I'm  not classified as a B-boy, so i guess I'm not allowed to have a name. There was a time when I was known as Electro Scott, but that name was a bit of a mouth full.

 SS: What has been the best reaction you received from the crowed when you are on stage?
CS: Well, people are really surprised and shocked when they see some of the things dancers can do on stage, especially for me because I don't normally tell people that I'm a dancer, but when they see me perform they go crazy. The biggest reaction though, is when I make the transition from Popping and Locking, to local Pantsula style dance. I sometimes even shock myself.

 SS: What has been the biggest venue you  have performed at
CS: Well I was honoured to be part of the Floor Effect crew, which is an amalgamation between the 031 Floor Assassins and Prime Effect crews when we performed at the Wave House, to open for one of South Africa's best rock bands, The Parlotones. That was just amazing.

 SS: You talk of creating dance academies for youngsters, can you tell us more about that?
CS: Yes, that my main aim in life. I want to teach this street style of dancing to everybody, so that one day it will just be a dance that is  just as prestigious as ballet or classical. People need to understand that when you dance you create your own trademark and everything you do comes from your soul

 Quick fire questions:

 Stranded on an island , What three things would you take with you? 
My life
My food 
My woman

 Favourite food...Pasta, anything Italian

 Dream Car...Audi R8 

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