Cape Town - Dancers from the Federation of Dance Sport Western Cape returned home victorious after competing at the South African Achievers and National Championships in Limpopo.
The competition was hosted by the Federation of Dance Sport South Africa at the Ngoako Ramahlodi Sports Complex in Polokwane from October 4-5, where hundreds of Standard and Latin dancers from across the country showed off their best moves.
Provincial chairperson for the Federation of Dance Sport Western Cape, David-John Michael-Steyn, said 25 dance pairs from the province, aged 8 to 64 years, from different clubs and dance schools, competed in Polokwane.
“I am so proud. To see the couples and parents arrive, they looked amazing, the costumes and energy was amazing.
“It was a really proud moment to see our dancers excel.
“It did not matter if a Western Cape dancer came first, second or third, we cheered them on.
“Ideally we would have loved to take all the dancers but we couldn’t, not everyone could afford to go.
“The parents worked really hard because all the travelling costs and costumes come out of the parents’ pockets.
“They do little fund-raisers because we are not in the position yet to sponsor our couples.
“So everyone did their own part to get there.
“If a costume needed to be fixed on the floor while they were dancing, a dance mom would sew it up quickly, not necessarily the dancer’s mom, but that is the sportsmanship and culture that we have.”
The team won gold in 11 categories including Youth Championship, U/21 Championship, Adult Championship, Adult Professional, Junior 2 Championship, the Senior 1 and 2 Championship in Standard, and in Latin they scooped Junior 2 Championship, Youth Championship, U/21 Championship, and Adult Professional.
Michael-Steyn said the dancers will continue to dance in smaller competitions in the province and those who received their South African titles will start preparing for World Championships next year.
Coach Donovan Forbes said: “There have been tireless efforts that have been put in in preparation for the event. Majority of these athletes are the Western Cape champions and now eligible to represent the country at the World Championships.”
Micheal-Steyn is appealing for any government or corporate funding as the dancers do not get any assistance.
To assist contact 081 349 2861.