Robbert Pri is a passionate dancer, leader and founder of Africa Dance Movement, Dancer’s Prayer Day and Dance 116. With a strong passion for empowering dancers and growing the dance industry, he creates platforms that bring dancers together, nurture talent and inspire purpose.
Robbert recalls that two years ago, he joined Rhema Feast and it was around the same period that he began discovering the world of flag dance. Although he had seen flag dancers on television, particularly in countries such as Spain, Venezuela and Brazil, he never imagined that he would eventually learn and minister through the art form himself.
He also searched the Bible to understand meaning behind flag dance. “God led me to Romans 12:1. It talks about consecration. Also every flag has a meaning behind it and every prophetic dancer carries a different ministry.” For example, white flags communicate the peace that comes with Christ, red is for warfare and green is for growth. Through dance, people can receive healing and revelation. This has also opened opportunities for him to perform as so many people have been impacted by this style of dance. He has done ministry alongside Pastor Nathaniel Bassey through Rhema Feast, Alice Kimanzi, Sounds of Worship, Baraka Polepole to mention a few.
Last year Robbert held Dancer’s Prayer Day, an event that attracted over 700 young people. Artistes and other people also showed up to support the gathering. “I was trusting the Lord for Nairobi Cinema and He did it. I desired a place where dancers come together not to showcase but to exchange. For the gospel space we are all standard, our goal is to bring people to the kingdom, not to compete,” he says.
His defining moment? Robbert remembers being positioned next to Pastor Nathaniel Bassey and suddenly recognizing the significance of the moment. He compared the way Nathaniel Bassey uses the trumpet to communicate and minister to the way he can use the flag. “So for me, it was a defining moment because, like, you see how he uses the trumpet? I can use the flag. The way he blows it and people receive healing and revelation, I can do the same with it,” he says.
It is very exciting that parents are open to co-curricular activities and are willing to pay for activities such as dance, swimming, karate, cooking and other areas beyond the traditional classroom learning. Through the dance agency, Dance 116, Robert engages with different schools and learning institutions. He also has a busy schedule therefore having a calendar of events where he plans activities for Africa Dance Movement and other ministry engagements such as Sounds of Worship and Nairobi Chapel Ngong Road. He also emphasizes on prayer and being led by the Holy Spirit. For him, alignment is everything.
Away from work and ministry, Robert enjoys spending time alone. He likes having time to think about how his day went, what he needs to improve and what he should work on next. As a creative, Robert believes that staying current is essential. “Dance is growing every single day,” he says. He recognizes that dancers cannot afford to stop learning. He continually researches who the best dancers are, what new dance styles are emerging, and how movement is evolving.
Looking ahead, Robbert’s ambitions extend beyond Kenya. “The next thing for me, I want to go to the African continent.” He believes that he has achieved a lot within Kenya and now desires to step outside the country and take his gift into other African spaces. Countries that he desires to explore include Uganda, South Africa and Rwanda. His goal is not simply to perform but also to learn from different cultures and understand the diversity of African dance.
His visit to Ethiopia gave him a glimpse into this diversity. He observed that Ethiopian dance culture has a strong connection to its traditional identity and that the country’s history and cultural preservation have influenced its music and dance. In contrast, he sees Kenya as particularly versatile and open to different influences.
Ultimately, Robert’s journey is about discovering what happens when talent, faith, discipline, creativity, and purpose come together. His vision for Africa Dance Movement and Dance 116 is part of a bigger desire to create opportunities, develop dancers, connect communities and take dance beyond performance.
Follow @robbert_pri on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok as well as his organization, Africa Dance Movement and Dancer’s Prayer Day.
Watch the full episode below:
Refresh 