Like many others in the entertainment industry, a Bridgetown-based dance group is hosting an online show to keep the wolf from the door.
Many know The Carters as a “Beyonce dance squad”, as they often dance to her songs, complete with similar outfits.
Matthew “Carter” Poole, 22, founded the group four years ago after he started dancing at his school functions.
Matthew is a self-taught dancer, apart from the one-year bridging course he took in 2017, two years after matriculating.
“I took a gap year in 2016, and within the first month of me trying to figure out what I wanted to do, I got my first dance gig. Soon thereafter, the dance squad started, and we started off with our Beyonce performances – using her music, and copying her choreography and costumes. Most of what we do is about her, but we also put our own spin on it.
“We have since introduced other artists that we emulate, like Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna.
“The Covid-19 pandemic and the ban on all social gatherings, put a damper on our work. Lockdown hit us hard.
“We will not be able to do live shows for a while, so we decided to do an online show on Friday August 28, at 7pm.”
He says the group have performed on SABC’s Expresso Morning Show and Afternoon Express and worked with various artists as back-up dancers, including Janice, Jimmy Nevis, Katlego Maboe, Niniola, Busiswa, DJ Lag, DJ Zinhle, Tamara Dey, TDK Macassette, Rouge, Goodluck SA, Prince Kaybee, Khanyi Mbau, as well as choreographer and Idols SA judge Somizi Mhlongo.
“We were selected by The Cape Town Carnival to join a team sent to represent South Africa in Hong Kong for the 2020 Chinese New Year Festival in January, which was unfortunately cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We had one rehearsal there and then had to make our way home again.
“After returning home safely, this would be our fate for the rest of our scheduled 2020 gigs – all cancelled. As per lockdown rules, our team has since been at home, left without any work in our industry, which has put a terrible strain on our pockets.”
Matthew appealed to the community to support them and other local artists.
For tickets, at R50, contact Matthew at 065 917 1692.