From Dancer to Filmmaker: Hamza Bakkache’s Journey in the Creative Arts
Follow the story of Hamza as he discovers his passion for photography and filmmaking through his experience as a dancer. Learn about his unique perspective and determination to create with whatever resources he has.
The interview is part of our Alternative Break series and revolves around Hamza's journey into the creative arts, the challenges he faced, his inspirations, and his future aspirations.
Takeaway 1: The transition from dancer to creative director and photographer is a journey of self-discovery.
Hamza shared his experience with his transition from being a dancer to a creative director and photographer. It all started with his passion for dance and gradually evolved to include other forms of artistic expression. "It all started with dancing," he said, and he began to explore his creativity in other areas when he became part of a crew that included a photographer and a filmmaker.
He started to be interested in their work, and although he was initially in front of the camera, he eventually developed a fascination with the idea of being behind it. "The way they did it and how much they loved it just got me interested, and at the end of it, I was like, okay, I think I want to know more about it," he said. As he continued to experiment and learn, he developed a passion for photography and filmmaking, which he describes as an extension of his love for dance.
During the pandemic, he found himself with more time to focus on these new interests. "2020 hit and I was like, It's time to find another to create with and move with," he said. This led him to invest in a camera and start creating content for himself, which eventually attracted the attention of others and led to collaborations and paid work.
Takeaway 2: Creativity thrives when combined with other interests and disciplines
Hamza's unique combination of skills as a dancer, creative director, filmmaker, and photographer has allowed him to see his work from multiple perspectives. He believes that being a dancer has made him a better photographer of dance, as he understands the movements and can anticipate the perfect shot.
“They understand the movements and everything so that interests me a lot, just like something to have fun with,” he said. His knowledge of dance also played a significant role in his work as a creative director. “The idea is to be very caring with your craft and like what you're creating and what you see, so once you have that vision, then you have that creative eye or that creative directing eye,” he explained.
Hamza emphasized the importance of starting somewhere and taking it step by step. Even if the initial equipment or resources are not the best, the important thing is to keep learning and improving. "What's important is to start somewhere and learn with what you have until you get what you can or what will make it easy for you," he shared.
Takeaway 3: The importance of perseverance and passion in pursuing a creative career
Hamza's journey has not been without its challenges, but his passion for his craft and his dedication to his art have helped him overcome these obstacles. His family was initially resistant to his career as a dancer and didn't understand his passion for it. He said, “They were so against breaking, like just like dancing in general…” but he continued to pursue his passion despite their resistance.
He also faced financial challenges and had to balance multiple jobs to support his creative pursuits. However, he remained committed to his craft and saw it as a tool that enabled him to express his creativity and contribute to his community.
In the future, Hamza hopes to continue his creative pursuits. He wants to live off his art and believes that his creativity is what keeps him in the present. He may not have a clear vision of where he'll be in 10 years, but he's optimistic that his journey as a creative professional will continue to evolve and grow. "I hope that 10 years from now I'm a really dope creative director and I already made minimum of like two films that I'm really proud of and then I have a series of like pictures that like can just represent my style and me," he said.
Insights surfaced
- Hamza started his journey in the creative arts as a dancer and gradually developed an interest in photography and filmmaking.
- His interest in photography and filmmaking was sparked by the creativity he observed in his fellow dancers who were also photographers and filmmakers.
- Hamza believes that his background in dance gives him a unique perspective when photographing or filming dancers.
- He believes in starting somewhere and learning with what you have until you can afford to upgrade your equipment.
- Hamza's family was initially against his decision to pursue a career in the creative arts but have gradually come to accept his choice.
- Hamza aims to be fully living off his art and creativity in the next 10 years.
