Ghana’s dancing teacher, Percy Jackson, became a social media sensation when he started posting videos online of him dancing with his pupils.
Percy Sackey, as he is known in real life, teaches creative arts, ICT (Information and communications technology) and maths to children at Twenedurase Presby Primary school in the city of Kwahu Obo, in the country’s eastern region. “I use dance to make learning easier and school more attractive,” he explains.
For the dance-mad young man, it makes sense to use this key part of Ghanaian culture: “When we go to church, we are dancing, when we go to a funeral, we are dancing, even in bed we are dancing, because it’s part of us. So what is wrong when we use it as a tool in class?”
Mr Sackey shows RTD how his methods work to win the children’s trust and create happy associations with learning. The teacher engages with children on the way to school, teaches dance moves to the football team and gives his pupils a maths lesson they will never forget. He also gets the children to learn the region’s traditional dances so they are connected to their heritage.
Mr Jackson keeps up with his passion outside of school hours, as he takes up dance challenges, films new videos and even attends a splendid royal funeral. For his mother, her boisterous baby boy has fulfilled his promise. As for Percy, he now wants to take his dance crusade worldwide.
