“There’s always been music in my life, and I think my way of showing that love and appreciation for people and music showed up for me through dance.”
Coming from a Jamaican background, Benjamin Williams is a Canadian dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker who was born and raised in Brampton. After spending time in Toronto, he now calls London home, and he’s on the fast track to global recognition.
Raised by both of his supportive parents, Williams describes himself as a hyperactive child who was always dancing. His father enrolled him in various sports, hoping to help him find what truly sparked his interest, but it wasn’t until a visit to the Unity Festival that Williams had what he calls a “movie moment.” Everything faded away, and all he could see were the dancers on stage. In that moment, he knew this was what he was meant to do.
He began searching for hip-hop studios in Brampton and threw himself into dance, driven by a deep love for music and connection. Music ran through his blood, especially on his mother’s side. His grandfather and two uncles were DJs; one of them even helped name Caribana and owns the TD Irie Music Festival.
“There’s always been music in my life,” Williams reflects. “I think my way of showing that love and appreciation for people and music showed up for me through dance.”
Williams is meticulous about his career. “If you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life,” he says, summing up his philosophy.
Turning his passion into a profession wasn’t random. Williams plans everything down to the penny. If he wants to work with a certain artist, he researches everyone involved: creative directors, choreographers, dancers, and creates a game plan to insert himself into the ecosystem.
His current life in London, the jobs he has landed, and the visibility he has earned all stem from consistency and intention: posting regularly on social media, reaching out to the right people, journaling his goals, and mapping the next steps.
Right after high school, Williams asked his parents if he could take a gap year to dedicate himself fully to dance. That year changed everything. He booked a role on Season 7 of The Next Step and landed a part in the Disney Channel Original Movie Zombies 2. When he received his first $125 dance paycheck, he knew: he would never work a “regular” job again.
The success of that gap year gave his parents the reassurance they needed to support his full-time dance career.
For Williams, the universe works in your favour when you follow your gut and dreams, rather than letting ego, or societal pressure guide your choices.
He acknowledges the untapped, world-class talent across Brampton and the GTA. His achievements serve as proof that greatness can emerge from these communities.
“I want kids like me to know they can do it too,” he says. Booking The Next Step wasn’t just a personal win; it meant becoming a Black male role model for other young viewers who could see themselves in him. Representation matters, and Williams carries that responsibility with pride.
When asked to pick a favourite experience, Williams struggles; he has had many, but a few stand out.
Upon moving to London, he collaborated with the band Jungle, performing in 12 one-take music videos that were transformed into a motion picture for their 2023 album Volcano. That gig led him to perform the hit single “Back on 74” at the 2024 BRIT Awards.
He also danced in the 2024 film Wicked, alongside over 100 other dancers in elaborate costumes. Despite the long shoot days, Williams loved learning the music and being surrounded by his favourite people.
Another standout? Returning to the Zombies franchise for Zombies 3, where he spent the summer: dancing, singing, and donning blue hair, again, with his favourite team.
Most recently, Williams joined pop star Troye Sivan on a European tour. “It was like seven best friends bouncing around Europe, living our dreams together,” he says.
Despite being a straight Black man in a queer space, Williams initially questioned whether he deserved to be there, but his choreographer reminded him that his presence meant something. “Being comfortable in a queer space as a straight Black man can represent a lot of different people,” he was told. “You’re showing others they can be themselves without fear.”
That moment of validation stuck with him. He never once felt unsafe, awkward, or out of place. It was his first world tour and his first time in Europe, and it affirmed that he was living his dream.
Now, Williams is applying for a UK Global Talent Visa. His goal? To represent the GTA on the global stage and be a bridge between Toronto’s rich cultural landscape and the world. “The GTA has a beautiful and unique mix of multiculturalism,” he says. “The world needs to see that,” and Benjamin Williams plans to make sure it does.
