In China, Eindhoven resident Carlton Marks Walden can no longer walk normally on the street. He is a celebrity there after participating in a dance program. “Street Dance China is the most famous program here. More than 500 million people have seen it.”
Carlton tells his story from his hotel. He will return to the Netherlands on Thursday. His adventure in China unexpectedly lasted six months. “I never expected to receive an invitation to come to China.”
The talent of the dancer and choreographer was already known in the Netherlands. In 2017 he won Holland’s Got Talent, with the Eindhoven dance group The Fire.
He received an invitation for the Street Dance China program via Instagram. International dancers were also allowed to participate. Carlton left in April. His dance studio in Eindhoven left behind.
“People come running after you to take pictures of you.”
The program starts with two hundred participants. Carlton makes a crushing impression. “I’m lucky that I did pretty well in the first round. They work with towels here. If you get a blue towel, you are through to the next round. With a red towel you are in the top 20 and if you get an orange towel you are in the top 10. After the first round I got an orange towel with my solo. You have to work hard to stay in the show every round.”
The show changes his life. He now walks on the street in China wearing a mask and sunglasses. “People come running after you to take pictures of you. They shout your name. When I walk outside I am quickly asked to take a picture. It’s a very different audience when it comes to fame and the fans you have.”
It was an intense period with very long shooting days. There was a translator for the international dancers, but Carlton also had to work with the language himself. “My Chinese is pretty good, they taught me a thing or two. Introducing myself works well. I can indicate that I am from the Netherlands and how old I am. But it is a difficult language.”
“I’ve been on stage where Beyoncé has been.”
In the end he made it to the final. He stood out as a coach. “You can compare it with The Voice. Four judges choose dancers to form their team. This time they chose four dancers to be captains. I became one of those captains and was allowed to put together my own team. Five of the eight dancers from my team made it to the final.”
Carlton himself also danced in the final. He eventually finished eighth. “I’ve been on stage where Beyoncé, Chris Brown and Mariah Carrey have been. I am very happy that I was able to do this.”
“I’m flying back this week. First I want to have some rest because I’ve worked hard lately. Had little sleep. And I’m going back to my dance school.” At the same time, his agenda is already filled. “I already have orders here in China. As a choreographer in a new TV program. They want me to put together the shows for the contestants.”
Ultimately, his dream is to go to America. “I can see myself working there for a choreographer. To put together shows for very famous artists. Who knows!”
See what Carlton’s performances looked like on Chinese TV in this video on the Chinese platform YouKu.
Also read: Holland’s Got Talent winners The Fire dream of a show with Beyoncé or Chris Brown
