The Jamaican adage ‘Learn to dance a yard before you dance abroad’ holds literal significance for thespian Marcos James.

The Rock-reared dancer spent his formative years under the tutelage of Cathy Levy in Little People and L’Antoinette Stines as a member of L’Acadco and Ashe, before moving to London, where he would pursue more lofty ambitions.

James has been featured in major productions such as Disney Theatrical’s Aida and The Lion King, which opened in London’s West End (1999 – present).

“I came to London in 2000 to do my Master’s in film production at the University of Bristol,” James tells SO, noting that he was cast as a dancer in The Lion King two years after his arrival.

The young thespian immersed himself in the city’s theatre community, meeting like-minded folks who could propel him forward.

“I was only one of two Jamaicans among the cast of The Lion King and I felt proud,” James shares, noting that achieving a part in the animated film-cum-musical marked somewhat of a milestone in his career.

The Lion King tells the story of a lion prince who, after the death of his father, is banished from the grasslands by his evil uncle and must defeat him in adulthood in order to restore the kingdom. The story of Aida, based on Giuseppe Verdi’s Italian-language opera, follows a Nubian slave who finds love while captive in Egypt.

“I was also the only Jamaican at the time to be featured in Aida” (played at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden), James shares, admitting that his role as warrior was physically demanding.

“I used my dance training to inform my performance…had to do Japanese sword fighting, Taekwando and Qigong (pronounced Chi Kung),” James says.

“Being in Aida marked a transition in my career,” he adds. And if copping a more prominent role is anything to go by, perhaps the young actor is right.

These days, the Calabar old boy is playing the lead — an Indian warrior — in Mahabarata, his latest West-End gig.

“I went to the casting as a dancer; instead of offering me the dance part they asked me to read lines and sing… I did, and they subsequently called me back and offered me the lead role.”

James recently left the comfort of the big stage — albeit briefly — to pursue his passion before the lens when he was featured in Nick Parish’s short film Reunion.

“In Reunion there are three central characters, Sean who I play is one of them,” James tells SO, admitting that playing a Brit meant having no trace of a West Indian accent.

“In theatre you can get away with an accent, all you need to do is speak very clearly, but this required me to sound different,” James adds.

He believes his career is on the cusp of recognition and it’s a direction he’s looking forward to.

“I’m at the point now where I’m stepping up to the next level,” says James, “it’s been an interesting experience thus far and it can only get better.”