Ghanaian dancer, Champion Rolie‘s ascent in the dance world embodies a tale of passion and determination, marked by unexpected turns.
His trajectory, from aspiring footballer to accomplished dancer, unveils a narrative of resilience and dedication.
Starting at Winneba Senior High School with dreams of football glory, Rolie’s journey took an unforeseen twist when his father steered him towards academia rather than sports trials.
“I wanted to be a footballer but it didn’t work,” Champion Rolie said in an interview on The Delay Show, on Saturday. “I was supposed to go for trials somewhere but my father objected to the idea because he wanted me to study. It got to a point where it felt like the football dream was not going to happen.”
Undeterred, he pursued Communication Design with a specialization in Advertising at university, only to find his true calling in dance.
“The passion moved from football to dance. I felt excited when I saw people dance,” the 24-year-old said.
Transitioning from textbooks to dance floors, Rolie’s passion flourished as he honed his skills and found a nurturing community in DWP (Dance With Purpose), a renowned dance collective.
“My father became aware of my dance career when I told him I wanted to join DWP. Mostly, I was free on Saturdays so I told him I’d want to go for a dance class. He agreed but cautioned me to take my books seriously,” said Champion Rolie.
He continued: “My dad is such that every evening, he wants to see me at a particular spot reading my books. Once I flout that, he gets angry. His educational background is not that good, so, he aims at pushing his children to further their education. He’s a photographer, my mother is a trader. I’m the second of three children.”
Navigating the expectations of his father, who prioritized education, Rolie found a delicate balance between his love for dance and academic pursuits.
His father’s pride, initially reserved and stoic, became evident during an outreach event organized by the Champion Rolie Foundation, where his father expressed profound admiration and support.
“During my first outreach in December, my father accompanied me,” Champion Rolie recalled. “He sat there and stared at me for so long. There was a time he said he was proud of me and I was emotional because he is very shy… When he told me he was proud of me, I was like ‘Wow’.
“He is the type that would never compliment you. So, it really meant a lot to me. It was amazing. It was one of the best things I’d heard from him in a long time.”
For Rolie, this moment was not just validation but a testament to his journey of self-discovery and perseverance.
His story serves as an inspiration for aspiring dancers and dreamers alike, proving that with passion and dedication, even the most unexpected paths can lead to greatness.
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