Written piece
Built On Grass,Threaded Forward
David Kamau
Kenya
About this piece
A journey that began with breakdance in raw grass and grew into a global international path. Threaded forward to mentoring youth through dance, switching struggle into movement, purpose, vison and connection.
It all started on grass, uneven ground and unpredictable which I often called it as hardcore ground that built my movements to what's called originality. I had no mirrors, no studio, no guarentees, just love, passion, rhythm and determination to keep me going.
Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya supported by a family that gave me the foundation to believe in myself. Breakdance was more like my first love in dance where it started as a curiosity which later became my purpose. I walked for a long distance uptown 15 km for me to train and back home again for another 15 km. I got used to it that I took this distance as my warmup session before training and cool down session after training. It was a difficult time walking back home as I could only rely on cars driving on the highway by making use of their headlights that gave/showed me a clear path to run toward due to the lack of road/street lights to see my walking path. My main goal and purpose was to train outside on grass repeating windmills,footwork and steps over and over, building something out of almost nothing and with zero excuses, come rain come sunshine, I still give it my best.
After surving for a while lacking transport fees and coming to my own self conclusion to start work for constructor to be able to earn and showing up for training after work because I could afford tranport fee to practice. Eventually, I managed to do all that and in those moments the thread did not break, but rather made me strong and wiser.
As I grew my dance and self movement envloved.
From break dancing, I later deepened into Afro Dance, DanceHall and developed a well strategic of becoming a dance freestyler. Each style brought a new layer of experience and a way of expressing myslef allowing me to share stories of my struggles, resilience, growth and hope.
My ground changed from grass to concrete, from empty informal spaces to international audience platforms and stages. My journey has been a blessing and taken me from Kenya to Switerzeland, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand teaching, performing, competing and sharing dance knowledgeacross difference cultures. Every step zone added a new thread to my story.
Today my thread is beyond my imagination, as a matter of facts it extends beyond me.
Currently, I am working at a Children's Garden Home & School, teaching dance and mentoring kids and youth. I'm also supporting them through sport by coaching them in basketball, creating a safe space where they can grow by expressing themselves and believing in their potential. As one we build more dance routines, we build discipline, confidence, hope and vision. Seeing young people finding their voice and purpose through movement just as I did once motivates me a lot and makes me who I am today.
My journey is about transformation nd my thread is no longer just about survival but rather about connection. It connects my past to present, my story to others and communities through movement and purpose.
DavidVid is my stage name that stems from grass to concrete, from struggle to purpose and yet still continuing to thread my journey forward one step, one story, one life at a time.