Jarrel Mathebula is the creative driving social change through his Indigenous Dance Academy

Jarrel Mathebula is a dancer and creative from Thembisa who founded the Indigenous Dance Academy.  He was raised by both his parents and is the youngest of four. Jarrel completed both his primary and high school years in Kempton Park. He was active in various sporting codes during his school days. This included soccer, cricket, tennis, and Athletics. His love for sports saw a young Jarrel being part of the SA U/16 cricket team as well as playing for the Kaizer Chiefs development team. However, the passion the young creative had for dancing overshadowed his love for sports. Fast forward a couple of years and Jarrel is one of the most proficient dancers/teaches in the country. We had an opportunity to sit down with the Thembisa native. This is how it went :

H.J                  : When did you start developing an interest in the creative industry and dancing and what inspired that interest?

Jarrel             : I started developing the love of creative industry in the year 2000, I had a friend called Brian he was a house DJ so I used to escort him when he was invited to play at events. While he played I used to dance and entertain people and sometimes we would dance together while he was playing. So that’s when the passion came alive enjoying the applause the props from people.

H.J                  : You are very passionate about changing your community and helping the kids, what do you attribute that passion to?

Jarrel             : I simply move for social change, that drives me on a daily basis knowing what I’m hustling for is going to make a huge difference in someone’s life that full fills my soul.

H.J                  : Do you think dance can keep the kids out of the streets and why?

Jarrel             : Yes, I’m doing it in my Academy. I make them rehearse on weekends I know that during the weekend there’s a lot of events and hanging out at street corners and doing nothing. I train them hard so that by the time they go home they’re too tired to even think of going out. Sometimes we prep to go to events and we would have early call times so there’s no time for fun. Fun time for them is pushing what they love which is dance.

H.J                  : Can you tell us more about the Indigenous Dance Academy and how that came about?

Jarrel             : Indigenous dance Academy’s mission is to provide the artist with the comprehensive artistic education that fosters excellence in all forms of street dance, in the manner that embraces a passion for all art forms. The key goal for the Academy is to instill in its artists an enthusiasm for, and a desire to have a positive influence within their community.

H.J                  : You have also partnered up with Red Bull Amaphiko, how did that come about?

Jarrel             : I was part of the Amaphiko Academy in 2013. When Redbull took out application forms for Amaphiko Academy we applied because we needed skills to uplift us so that we run our program better.

H.J                  : You have worked with some of the biggest brands, what do you attribute that kind of success to?

Jarrel             : Authenticity, humility, and resilience

H.J                  : At such an early age you’ve practically done it all from an on-looker’s point of view, what are your personal goals and what do you still want to achieve.

Jarrel             : I want to have my own family. I would like to write a book on South African street dance, I would love to have a successful street dance theatre show touring the world being featured on Broadway.

H.J                  : What would you say is your biggest achievement so far and why?

Jarrel             : My biggest achievement is seeing the people I groom fulfilling their dreams eg there’s a dancer in my Academy that built himself a home.

H.J                  : Who are some of the people you’ve worked with and who would you still like to work with and why?

Jarrel             : Lebogang Rasethaba (film director)

Black coffee

Son of Kemet

Wanted posse (dance group based in France)

Bboy Junior (best bboy in the world)

Dj Mbuso

I would still like to work with Chris Brown.

Travis Payne (Michael Jackson choreographer)

Ciara

Hugh Masekela

H.J                  : Who, in your opinion (besides yourself) is currently breaking boundaries in the creative and dancing scene

Jarrel             : Vintage crew

H.J                  : What words of advice do you have for those who look up to you in terms of everyday life?

Jarrel             : Authenticity, be yourself, always be a student of life be willing to learn from others all the time.

H.J                  : Finally, for a Hustler’s Junction exclusive, is there anything new that you’re working on that you would like people to keep an ear on the ground on?

 

Jarrel             : I choreographed a standard bank advert which is going to be playing throughout Africa to be on the lookout for that.

H.J                  : Where can people find you on social media?

Jarrel             : Facebook- Jarrel Mathebula

Instagram- jarrelmathebula