Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Floorkiller capturing hearts
WITH his captivating stage presence and humbling personality off-stage, six-time Freestyle Dance League champion, Nic Matthee also known as “Nic Floorkiller” has won the hearts of many.
With a grandfather who was a tap dancer, Matthee developed a passion for performing arts at a tender age. The fast moves, glitter outfits and the music all captivated him, influencing him to join a dance crew in 1998.
“I joined a small dance group called Instinct in Mitchells Plain. I wasn’t the best dancer at first, but one thing I can assure you, I did not give up until I become the best. One day I redeemed myself by going on stage, with my mother’s clothes, ripped it all off and danced my heart out. It worked like a bomb. Because after that, I became the front-row dancer,” Matthee said.
With all this attention coming his way, he did not anticipate the challenges that he was about to encounter.
“Fast-forward to 2007, my mother was not happy with the path I was taking...”
Matthee described how he ended up sleeping in trains, next to the Castle of Good Hope, Sea
Point and later at the fire station.
“I was just an evident wreck. I lost weight and had broken teeth due to the unhealthy diet I was on. Winters were the worst time due to the cold,” Matthee said.
Despite the obstacles, Matthee did not give up. He got employed as a security guard and things started looking up.
After winning several contests and developing himself from the ground,
Matthee decided to give back to the community by starting his youth development project, Nic Floorkiller Entertainment Projects – a community arts promotional project that aims to empower the you and mould them to be a success story within the community.
“Every time I performed at the events, I felt the need to help the kids one way or another. Because as a performer it felt wrong getting attention through these events while the kids I am performing for are in need. So I started the Nic Floorkiller Entertainment Projects to help talented children in our communities off the streets.
“My plan is to take young talented children and shape them to become performers by heart. I’m planning to have them perform at the Steinthal Children’s Home in Tulbagh just outside Paarl. My aim is to have different organisations involved.”
Patrick Lategan, who is also a dancer, mentioned how his life changed after meeting Matthee.
“Nic took me under his wing, and shaped me to the person I am today,” said Lategan.
Matthee also collaborates with other youth organisations to uplift the children in the communities and assists in distributing food parcels.