Grooving for a good cause
Residents can also show their support by attending to watch the young dancers perform.
Kwa-Thema – Things are heating up at Dance Fest Battles, and the organisers want to make the circle bigger.
A group of young people from Kwatsaduza have created a platform for aspiring dancers to showcase their talents.
Rellex Films hosted the first Dance Fest Battles in December 2023, and the reception has been mind-blowing.
“All we were trying to do is empower the youth and give them a safe space to express themselves,” said Thokozani Duba, also known as ‘Teekay Monati’, one of the organisers.
During each event, dancers as young as eight sign up to battle against each other. After each battle, the winner moves on to the next round.
“In December, we were able to award the winners R1 000 each. But we hope to go bigger now that we have seen the response from dancers.
“Some of them come from as far as Pretoria and Thembisa to compete,” explained Mpumi Mazibuko, also known as ‘Mpummey Lellow’.
The youngsters said they want to do much more moving forward.
“Sometimes the dancers tell us they are hungry, and we seldom have enough to feed everyone. We hope to have enough money to provide a meal for all the participants at each event.
“But most importantly, we want to increase the prize money,” added Karabo Toka, also known as ‘Mamillion GF’.
The group appeals to the community and private businesses to sponsor their events and keep the youth off the streets.
The Dance Fest Battles happen every Sunday at Protocol Bar, Legodi Street, Kwa-Thema.
They thanked Vusi Shabangu, who sponsored them with a wire fence that keeps spectators safe when the venue is full.
Residents can also show their support by attending to watch the young dancers perform.
Check them out on these social media platforms: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554790508159 and
www.tiktok.com/@df.battle/video/7324226325932182789
