Xtraordinaire Dancer Avatar talks Mud Art, Business And Creative Journey

If you are not a fan of contemporary dance then you have never seen Avatar waxing lyrical in his vigour and element. 

The first time I saw him on stage, he held the crowd spellbound while he painted images with his moves and told stories without saying a word. 

Born Jonathan Daniel, Avatar is from Kaduna State and a graduate of Kaduna Polytechnic and a lover of God who is not ashamed of his Christlike identity and boldly proclaims the gospel wherever he goes. 

Avatar is not just an astute dancer but also the co-founder of a dance company called MUD Art Company. 

He is also an entrepreneur who owns a chain of businesses and the brain behind Full View Cinema, a mobile cinema where young Christians hang out, network and watch faith-inspired movies.

We sat with the dance star for an exclusive interview. Enjoy. 

HHHH: Describe your style of dance and what inspired you to start dancing.

Avatar: I'm a contemporary dancer and I do a bit of krump. What inspired me to start dancing was watching artists like Michael Jackson and some dance movies I watched like Storm The Yard etc.

HHHH: Wow that's wonderful.

So did you learn it or it is self-taught?

Avatar: I learnt to dance by watching videos and constant practice at first, later I joined a Christian dance group called House of David, where I learned for a while before I moved to L.X.G to improve the skill. Now I am working with a dance company, MUDART Company as a co-founder and also a dancer of the company.

HHHH: That's remarkable

Tell us a bit about your dance company, Mudart and the vision behind it.

Avatar: MUDART Company is a cultural organisation for the performing arts in Northern Nigeria. It started in 2019 in Kaduna State. its belief is to reach out to the whole world through dance. Its core values are to heal, create and explore.

HHHH: Beautiful! Keep it up fam.

Avatar: Thanks bro

HHHH: Recently you were part of a project that took you outside Nigeria. Tell us about it.

Avatar: Yeah we were sponsored by the French Embassy for a festival for a dance festival in Burkina Faso (Bobo Dioulasso) for about fourteen days. It was a great experience. We performed on a world-class stage with artists that came from all around the world. 

HHHH: Wow that's grand

HHHH: What was the experience like meeting and working with people of different nationalities, cultures and backgrounds, and how did you deal with the culture shock?

Avatar: At first it was difficult to communicate with the citizens of the country because of cultural differences in language, most people there only speak French. But with time, we had to learn basic communication in French and sign language also helped but it didn't take so much time to blend in with the people and the culture.

HHHH: Wow that was a wonderful experience I guess.

What's your best dance performance so far?

Avatar: Working with some of the artists was easy because art is a language, every artist understands that language, and we speak the same language as artists.

HHHH: Yeah this is insightful 

What's your best dance performance so far?

Avatar: I won't say I have a best performance but one of my favourites is compound dance production it's a one-hour performance.

HHHH: Some people especially from this part of the world see dancers as people who aren't serious with their lives. As an accomplished dancer, how would you correct that notion?

Avatar: I won't blame them completely most dancers in this part of the country do not take it seriously because they don't really see support or even experience any of it, so putting dance as a priority is not so easy.

I won't say am I an accomplished dancer we are still growing pushing to be the best and the most impactful dance company in the world by God's grace.

HHHH: Tell me about Full View Cinema and the vision behind it.

Avatar: The Fullview Cinema is a 100% mobile Christian cinema that aims at reaching out to people via Christian movies and other Christian materials like documentaries, cartoons etc. 

HHHH: What is your career trajectory for the next five years?

Avatar: Touring around the world with the MUDART, training younger dancers to continue with the work we are building.

HHHH: That's incredible. 

What advice do you have for upcoming dancers?

Avatar: Keep dancing don't give up the goal soon enough it will come to reality.

HHHH: Apart from dance, you are into business. Tell us about the services you offer.

Avatar: Yes, I am into clothes design, clothes branding and costume making, I'm also Into dog breeding, giving dogs up for adoption and also rental of sound equipment. 

HHHH: How has your faith sharpened your creativity and the way you do business?

Avatar: As a believer, I have the Holy Spirit to inspire me at all times, which makes creativity easy. I give all the glory to God, not my works.

HHHH: Who's your favourite musician and why?

Avatar: Selah Ogaba. 

Because he's my friend. He blows my mind the fact that I know him, but he still blows my mind anytime I see him sing, that is amazing to me.

HHHH: Finally sir, send shout-outs to 5 people.

Avatar: Shout out to Dr Felix Idoko, shout out to MC School, shout out to BK, shout out to my family MUD Art, shout out all the beautiful people all around the world God bless you all.

HHHH: Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us bro.

Avatar: Thank you. 

You can reach out to Avatar for business or bookings via his social media handles 

Instagram @MUDArt_company 

@Fullviewcinema