AT 13 years old, British dancer Princess K has an impressive resume that includes performing on stage with rapper Stormzy and multiple-Grammy winner Lauryn Hill. She is keen to have an impact on the Jamaican dance scene.

Princess K is among the participants in the ‘Inviting Riddim Dance Challenge’, a contest staged by South Florida-based Most Wanted Records. It launched in July to promote the label’s rhythm of the same name.

“I want to be a part of this contest because I love dancehall beats and trends. I want to be a part of the growing dance and challenges that are happening in Jamaica. I love dancing to Jamaican beats as they are so creative and have a lot of drumming patterns and styles. It’s just so infectious [that] you cannot keep still,” she expressed to the Jamaica Observer.

From Hertforsdshire in southern England, Princess K says her family are from Kingston, Clarendon, St Thomas, St Elizabeth, and Westmoreland. She has been dancing since six years old and specialises in moves inspired by Afrobeats and hip hop.

That earned a spot during Stormzy’s set at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival in England. One year later she had a similar role in Hill’s performance at the Love Supreme Jazz Festival, also in the United Kingdom.

Princess K believes her moves, which she describes as “mostly freestyle with a lot of hand and feet gestures, Afro styles and patterns”, would fit perfectly with dancehall.

“I would love to work with more Jamaican and dancehall artistes as that’s where I’m from and would like to represent,” she said, pointing to Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Koffee, Popcaan, Damian Marley and Chronixx as her favourite acts.

The controversial Windrush incident of 2018 saw the British Government deporting persons from Commonwealth countries (including Jamaica) because of inadequate documentation. It not only sparked cries of racism, but helped revive interest among Britons of Caribbean descent about their origins.

“I haven’t been to Jamaica yet but I am planning a trip and a dancing tour, also a visit to friends and family. I also want to dance with other Jamaican dancers and learn new moves when I am out there. Most of all, I am really excited to visit Jamaica sometime in the near future and find out more about my roots and origins. There is so much to learn about Jamaica and I am ready to find out more about my heritage,” she said.

The Inviting Riddim Dance Challenge began on August 1 and ends September 30. It has two categories — an open segment and another where participants 13 years old or younger are eligible.

Winners will be selected by a panel from Most Wanted Records based on accumulated views on social media.