Courtnae’ Paul
24
Creative Director / Bgirl / Choreographer / DJ
When did the dance bug hit you?
I think it was aiming for someone else and hit me by mistake, lol. Age 10/11, I randomly got involved with my church dance group, and the rest is history.
How do you juggle all your titles and make them work to your advantage?
In this industry it’s generally in your best interest to be versatile and well versed in different areas and / or styles. Due to the nature of entertainment as a profession, the industry and it’s job offers are constantly fluctuating, so I have always made sure that there is a need for the services I offer. It might sound like a lot of titles; however they are all closely linked and expose me to the other sides of my expertise. This in turn sees me learning and broadening my skill set to eventually being able to do that job myself. It works well for me because I stay in my lane, but I make sure I have everything in my lane covered.
The coolest gig you’ve ever been a part of to date?
I choreographed a very urban African surprise welcome for Richard Branson last December. It was cool because I enjoy meeting people who have made such a success in life, yet are still down to earth and super friendly. He joined in on the performance and really seemed to have enjoyed himself. I love creating experiences and having other people enjoy them too. Another gig that was pretty cool was choreographing and leading two 2015 / 2016 Cell C campaigns. They were printed and they flighted on everything from cinema, to store material, billboards, fliers, internet and TV. The campaign ran for six months, and was just renewed for another three…
Who inspires you to hustle even harder?
Everyone and everything around me is a constant push to be greater, I am inspired by people that continue to push no matter what the circumstances are. Every time I smash one goal or achieve something I thought I never could, it makes me work harder because I see it’s possible. I am a firm believer that thinking and believing, coupled with action, brings your visions into reality.
That one South African jam that gets you moving all the time is…?
“It’s about tiiiiiime! You listen to Boom Shaka!”
Who or what gets your heart beating fast? Lol
My girlfriend! In both a good and bad way! Hahaha!
Where do you picture yourself in the future?
The direction of my plans never change, however the scale changes almost weekly, so I picture myself being really happy and having accomplished everything little goal I set.
If you were an animal, which one would you pick?
I would be a lion or a dolphin. Lions are so beautifully lazy and get to sleep all day, and dolphins are just the cutest fun ‘lifesavers’ ever, lol.
That word you yell out every time you get pissed?
I yell “fada gohd maaan!” (for some reason my inner Nigerian comes out).
How do you maintain staying power in the industry?
By adapting to change and always creating a demand for my skills.
Follow Courtnae’!
Instagram: @Courtnae_Paul
Twitter: @Courtnae_Paul
Facebook: Courtnae’ Paul
YouTube: Courtnae’ Paul
MixCloud: Courtnae’ Paul
–Bridgette Makhela
bkoolmedia 