Hout Bay dancers shine at hip hop champs

Four dancers from Hout Bay and Imizamo Yethu were ranked among the top-five under-17 dance squads that competed at a national hip hop championship.

Iviwe August, from Sea Point High School; Adriano Conradie, from Hout Bay High School; Lesedi Mere, from Hout Bay Primary School; and Sibulele Busakewe, from Hout Bay High School, make up the Majestic Power Movement crew.

Earlier this year, the four won first place at the Grand Slam Hip-Hop Competition in Retreat (“Hout Bay dancers chosen to represent province,” Sentinel, August 23), booking their spot for the Street Dance Association Nationals Championship held by the Dance Sport Club League Western Cape at Groote School High School in Newlands from Friday October 25 to Sunday October 27.

According to their coach, Luzuko Sodladla, 23, they came fifth in the category for under-17 squads, and Adriano was selected for the national team.

“I'm proud that we got fifth place. As a team, we are so happy that Adriano made it to the national team,” said Sibulele.

“Since it was my first time to be in nationals, dancing with different provinces, I experienced a bit of stage fright, but we pushed through. The inspiration and the choreography for our performance was to tell a story about coming out of the township to the world, through dancing. The songs were chosen by our coach,” she said.

Adriano said he was looking forward to representing South Africa.

“I’m so happy for making it in the star team and having the chance to compete in Spain next year but also disappointed because my team didn’t make it.”

Mr Sodladla said it took grit and determination to prepare for nationals.

“I can't explain how proud I am of my team. Starting from not being known to being seen as a force to be reckoned with. Future goals that we have are to get a bigger place or space so we can practise and rehearse.“