 Promise me for, on this particular dance edition, we are going to bring the one and only Aggie. I see the main man himself, Murome is in the building as well. He'll be coming on later. But before that, my people, we will talk to you and then we'll talk to the main lady of the day. So what's up everybody, Karibusana to the Dance Queen Aggie. Actually, it's Aggie the Dance Queen, yes? Yes, sure, sure. Karibusana. We're glad to have you here. My name is Jere Mochache. You can find me, enjoy underscore Mochache. And as Barry said, this is social Friday. We're going to be talking to a wonderful dancer over here. I was going to teach us a couple of things about dancing. Don't forget the moves. Yes, we're also going to try out a couple of moves. And Barry and I will see whether we can dance. I'm very competitive, Joy, by the way. We have to get into our competition. I know, but we'll also add some fun to it. So we'll have a blast. And also remember, you can watch us on DSTV channel 376. Yes, we have gone international and also find us on Facebook. That is Y254channel, Instagram. It's Y254 underscore channel on Twitter. That is Y254channel. All right, so VDJ Khalifa, you've been listening to the sounds of VDJ Khalifa himself. It's always a party starter. It's having a good time. How are you feeling, man? Never stopped the music. I never stopped the music. Yeah, never stopped the music. We're going to be talking about Aggie the Dance Queen. We did, you know what I mean? I'm sure. This isn't it there. Actually, I'm sure. You're expecting us to be tall. So, I'm sure you'll improve, man. You have to clap for me. Anyway, Aggie, your camera is number four, I think. But maybe you can introduce yourself. No way I could do credentials. What is this? My name is Aggie the Dance Queen. That's my stage name. I'm part of Sarakasi Dancers. I'm a choreographer. I'm a trainer. I'm a Zumba instructor. I'm a mentor. And, yes, all round. All round. And so many other things. And so many other things that sit as a maleho. I'll just say maleho. Anyway, welcome to Aggie. It's a pleasure to meet you, finally. Some people claim that that dress is more popular than you are. Is it a dress or a jumpsuit? It's a jumpsuit. All right. I don't know if it's a famous cushion. Do you agree? No, I don't. Because Kamasinge Iva, I think it's very famous, right? Yes. So we complimented each other. You complimented each other. Me, Daniel, your dress took out one thing. It took out one thing. It took out perfect. All right. Speaking of that dress, speaking of that outfit, that jumpsuit, how come you didn't come with it today? You didn't want to grace our stage with it today. Amma, it's just been brought up too many times. Yes, and I think it's time now. It just took a rest. It took a rest. Because there was even an animation we're watching earlier on that was wearing that exact outfit. Yes, Fatboy made that. Fatboy made that. What was your reaction when you first interacted with the animation? The first time, yes. I think the first time I met Fatboy was when we were doing the mentorship for Blaze. And I used to see, I used to love his the comic part of this one now. Yes, and when he sent me this, actually it's not him, it's someone who tagged me. Why did he exaggerate your legs like that? That is what animation is all about. Oh my gosh. And to make it look so nice because at least kids can relate to it. Yes. And it's a more fun way of showing or expressing that dance. But you want to put the outfit to rest. It has been to rest since last year. Since last year. I can't even wait. Have you got people asking you if you can sell it to them? Yes, a lot of people. And I've sold a few to some people. But that outfit mine is secretly hidden. That one I can't say. We are going to have it in a museum somewhere sometime soon after you are gone. Call of Fame. People don't know that you had to put school aside and focus on dance, focus on your dreams, focus on something that you love. True. How was this experience? How was it telling your parents first? I'm not, I'm not proud I did it. But I think my passion for dancing was way too much. Than me reading or having to be in a lab because that is what I was studying. Chemistry. So I think those are two different fields. So when I told my parents they were like ah, my friend. What do you want to do? Like you want to stop studying. You ask to go and then you have to dance, my friend. It was not like the easiest thing for me to do. Eventually I think my first breakthrough was when I went to Holland for a dance exchange program. This was way before Short and Sweet? Yes, way before Short and Sweet. Around three years ago. So my parents were like mmm, I'm a part of Passport. Yay, dancing I live. Then they started seeing me in videos and every parent is like now everyone wants to meet. Everyone wants to meet. Everyone wants to meet. So people start believing when they see you doing things. When you start people won't really believe in you. Exactly. Everyone wants to tell you that dance doesn't pay. Manzona waste your life. But until they see the results until you stay there and persist and like prove everyone wrong. I think that is the only thing that you need to do. It's the only breakdown in your life. Always stick to the vision man. Stick to the vision and the passion. Do you see yourself going back to do biochemistry to finish? You found your niche now. I will go back to finish my certificates and my degree. But I don't think it's something that I would want to pursue. But it has helped me somehow in my dancing because I get to understand my body more. Because if you're told now stretch you don't know what you're stretching. So biochemistry somehow you get to learn more biology. The anatomy, the chemistry it puts so many things so you get to understand how your body works and which part you need to stretch, which part you need to tone so for you to be fit. It has really contributed to my dancing. And that reaction from your parents was actually so normal because I was actually expecting that and I normally ask a lot of guests here because when I see they're doing something that's not normally in the vision of African parents but sometimes when I'm looking for someone to marry, be a doctor, be a lawyer biochem. The white color jobs, the well-paid jobs. And they forget actually, I think art is the highly paid job. Exactly. If you don't want to work there's nothing. And it's the only place you feel comfortable. You can come to work. If you're a presenter you can come to work dressed the way you want. There's not a strict thing that you have to follow these. You have to be my wife. You have to wake up at this time every day. You wake up because you want to do it because it's something that brings you happiness. Because you love it. And you've been doing it for what, six years now? Yes, six years now. And I'm loving every day of the journey. And when you were is it something religious foundation or you just woke up one day you found yourself with a talent you're like oh my gosh I'm actually good at moving. Because sometimes that's what happens when you see yourself like wow I'm a really good dancer. Is that what happened how did it go? How did it go? I would say I started dancing way back when I was a small kid. It was a church. When I was a child there was competition. But it's not something I knew I would want to do it. But when I was almost finishing my my course in Kenyatta University I was on a long holiday and then I was like when is the university time? I'd seen them on TV. In the university or six months then I go back. But I didn't know that was like the last time I would say I'm wasting my my time because that is where the change came in. It was so hard starting because the dance structure in Salakasi is totally different. See Le dance too here Kujibamba. Dance has counts that people don't even know. Those are the things to go to MBS. When the music is playing there's a certain count that is in the music like bars. There's a way you need to count. In dancing we count from one to eight. You can't count one, eight, nine to eleven. No, there's nine. There's not that nine. It's one to eight and it keeps repeating itself. You can even do 24 counts of eight. It's on a loop. So to me it was very hard because I couldn't even coordinate counting those counts and I'm like what? I count until fifteen. No, it's not like that. You have to go back. And then the muscles were so sore like every day you're doing something your body is not used to. I think for the last for six months I used to like cry and even ask myself what have I got myself into? Yes, but at the end of the day because I had prayed about it and I'd ask God if you want me to be in this dance industry there's something I'd ask him to do and eventually it will happen. So I said fine. Yes. Yes. And I'm glad it really So your body actually gets that sore? Imagine even now it does. It does. You haven't got used to it. I can't because I'm saying there's a different muscle you're working on there's a different move that your body is in a feeling of I must get that out. So your body doesn't get used to it. The only thing that happens is you get to tone your muscles every time they do. So dance is like a fun way of working out? Yes. Actually dance is the best form of workout because it works your whole body mental, physical the emotional part of it exactly. It's something all round and to top it you feel free doing it because no one is really looking at you like strictly when you're doing it it's more fun. Especially when there's a mirror somewhere and you feel like a diva you feel like oh my God I just want to. You feel free. We are going to be learning that move as well. That's your signature move by the way. Did you come up with that move? That one. That move we really debated about it between me and my husband because he was the one you were doing the free for your shins. Why were you debating that move? I actually watched it. Because he really wanted something different and then I told him no let's just add something into this move. It was very simple but not catchy so we had to like eventually we that is what we ended up with and I think it's a very nice and unique. Are you willing to teach us? Yes. We will see. No we won't compete. We will not compete. Anyone can dance. Do you know that? I'm sorry. I like to hear that because I've always had that interest. As long as you have the interest you can describe what was but can you start asking yourself what am I doing? That one is for if you want to go professional if you want to do it for fun. I want to learn how to dance like for real. Then be ready to feel the pain. Be ready to develop the pain. If you can't stand the pain I'm wishing to get to a professional level just you know to learn how to move the body. You've been somewhere that I only see on TV Formula 1 How did this happen? And where was this? Formula. It was in Bahrain. We had initially done a project with that what can I call it a promoter in France before. He said why don't you come and do this project for us. That is how I ended up doing Formula 1. So you called for the guys who came to watch the race. Yes. Did you get to ride in one of them? No you can't because it's a big place. It's a big place. You can only get in maybe and you may just pose. I hope you'll wear a jacket. I like the jacket. Anyway There's another thing you did in Nigeria with Phoenix. Yes. We launched in Phoenix. What is it called? Not in Phoenix. What's the name of this spot? It was a phone. We did the launch. That was the first I went to Nigeria. So those men have been coming? Yes they have been coming. Even before Short and Sweet. That is where people don't understand. There was Agi before Short and Sweet. Agi has always been there. She has always been dancing. But for the Short and Sweet I always say that was the right time for people to know more of Agi because I've done so many things. I've been in so many videos. Maybe people see me and say they like they want to dance but Short and Sweet came as a highlight for the whole Agi as a brand. But Agi has been there. Agi has been there. It's a process. Before you get your breakthrough you have to go through things that you went through. Yes. We should not always wait like if you come in now you want success now. You have to make it a journey so that when your success comes it becomes an inspiration other than it's because it has to be a journey. You have to be able to tell people this is where I started and this is where I am and that is where I want to be. It has to be a journey. That journey seems like actually a very interesting one. Those are six years. Of course Agi was there before this whole thing started. When people are trying to make the music video for Short and Sweet if I could just go back to that there was an audition for it here and I can imagine when you see an audition for Salty Soul video I'm sure like half of Nairobi showed up. And when I saw the actual video I think there was what six to eight people dancing? Yes, we were eight. Out of all those people I wonder what it is what do you think it is that they saw that peaked the interest in you and your dance moves? I actually don't know. It's a very tough question because I always wonder we were so many. First of all let me just go back when we had these auditions and we were like why are we doing that? But when we went and we heard the song I'm like these guys are not serious. It's things about Odi I'm not used to Salty Soul singing about Odi and I'm not also used to doing Odi so to me that was something way out of my line but we did auditions I think two times we eventually passed and the choreography started process the choreography started but I think I always say it's about favor and it's about grace because everyone is dancing, everyone was giving their best in that video. And there were so many and we were so many and everyone had a different part to play but it's not the jumpsuit it's not agi it's favor Can I add one more thing? I also think timing I also think it was your time it was just your time It was your time that's why it just happened that way some things you can't question you just say thank you God You were asked what's your favorite dance is and you said Odi with swag so Odi came to be your favorite dance fast forward a few moments later after you did the video what is Odi with swag first? Odi with swag is that short and sweet that is Odi with swag where you turn around, you step step and turn that is the Odi with swag that step is very easy I used to see guys dance to Odi because you used to do co-activations in schools I used to see them dance Odi and I was like why are you dancing so when you try it you look so funny because it's not something you're used to and it's a certain way and then people associate it with kids mostly also and it's a certain way your body has to curve so it's like I don't do that it's funny so being a professional dancer and being given this how can I call it the easiest move is always very hard to execute it because you're used to street structures manguvu now if you do what a guy this thing is hard so Odi with swag is just that it's just this it's just this yes you're going to be learning that in a video yes you try it I'll try when I'm sitting it's just this so it's just this so why 254 channel on Twitter why 254 and the school channel on Instagram and why 254 on Facebook is the way to reach us don't forget the hashtag why in the morning keep your questions coming your request direct them to video directly for your questions direct them to Aggy the dance queen and you can find on Instagram as Aggy the dance queen every social media do you have a YouTube as well Aggy the dance queen what's on your YouTube channel I'm curious my choreography can I look at your videos at home and teach myself how to dance but soon I'm starting my tutorials your tutorials or on YouTube as well oh so those ones are not tutorials no those are me just dancing oh just dancing but I have a few tutorials on YouTube but now I'm going into tutorials alright interesting you Kenyans need to dance we need to be fit it's a good way to keep fit because some of us don't want to go to the gym to be honest so this is a fun way and we need to be fit as well alright so well we are going to be taking a break but before we take a break Aggy the dance industry in Kenya right now been somebody who has travelled to Bahrain Lagos where else where do you place it where do you place it I will say we are growing we are growing yes we are not there yet but definitely we'll get there the whole short and sweet created so much buzz and put dance in Kenya in a different like perspective guys started appreciating dance it might be they appreciating the od but now they know there's dancers in videos not just the musicians who sing because even the dancers they complement not just the yes there's more to the visuals of the video because if you get professional dancers they make your video just awesome alright since it's social Friday I'd like to know how social media has impacted dance being somebody who has danced for a while you've seen how social media has influenced dance because now we can somebody can be famous on Instagram yes just tell me how social media has impacted dance and are you loving it let me say it has given me and every time I post a video I get so many reactions from people like oh it's good and of course there are the critics and every time you have those as well yes yes I have and I appreciate every feedback from each and everyone because it's what makes me grow if right now I do a free video and everyone is like man they've been waiting for this tutorial for quite some time and it creates the hype like everyone wants to do it even when the short and sweet guys from Lagos from France they were trying that dance and they're like inboxing me man this is so hard explain it's not hard this is how you do it so the social media has really opened up for dance to be known to the world and I just wish we could keep going and even dancers could post more on their Instagram or just any platform let's use the social media tools effectively and we can take Kenyan dance moves worldwide we have our own identity because Nigeria has theirs and they've had quite a number from time to time and I don't think we're forgetting that Ken has so many tribes that each tribe has a different dance so what if we contemplate those dances and make them contemporary kind of we like infuse the modern aspect from the tradition and just make something thank you very much we are going to make contemporary Kenyan dances international as well we're with Aggie the dance queen you can find on Instagram as Aggie the dance queen we are going to take a short break and then we'll be back with Aggie to show us the moves can you move don't touch that out