Glenvista’s Isabella Vanner (12) is living proof that talent and effort are earned by focus, hard work and determination as she is set to compete for best contemporary dancer at the Worlds Championship in March 2023.
The talented Isabella expressed excitement and hope that she will win the title.
Dancing has always been Isabella’s passion since she started dancing at the age of three. Her dancing was then enhanced under numerous mentors from different dance schools who saw her potential to become one of the best dancers in her category.
She started with ballet and went through to do gymnastics combined with her ballet training. This approach helped Isabella’s dancing form, resulting in her becoming more elegant and flexible.
According to Isabella’s father, Taryn Vanner, Isabella is a resilient and determined young lady.
“Around five months ago she had a fall off the gymnastics beam and had torn her ankle ligaments, which in the sporting fraternity means you could be out for a few weeks or months.
“Being the determined dancer she is, she pushed through her demanding physio sessions and managed to overcome her injury.
“With her still not at 100% recovered, she managed to compete at her Ekurhuleni Gymnastics finals, where she placed first overall in her particular age group. Added to this she also competed with the very same injured ankle at the Alberton Eisteddfod and also managed to achieve an item winner award in contemporary dance.
“Isabella has been achieving and receiving awards from all her genres of dance. The most recent of these is her achievement at the SA Gymnastics Games 2022, where she competed against other young ladies from across the country. There were 92 contestants in her age category and she placed second overall,” said Vanner.
Lynn Steenkamp, the owner of Diamond Dance Academy, confirmed Isabella would be entered into the worlds competition at Roodepoort State Theatre. She will perform both a solo and group dance.
Her dance instructor and coach Lynn stated, “I am so proud of her. She is one of my top students at the academy and the growth I have witnessed in her is significant. I hope that Isabella performs well on the world stage and gets the chance to go overseas to compete.
“The young dance student unselfishly gives of her time to also teach and assist me with other younger learners from time to time in the dance studio.”
Lynn attests to how these youngsters look up to Isabella and reinforces what an incredibly kind, helpful, well-mannered individual Isabella is.
When asked, Isabella confirmed that she puts in numerous hours of hard work and training in her backyard at home after school and over the weekends. Her dad and mom concurred that this hard work has made a significant impact on her skill level and being rewarded with great results in her various dance genres.
Lynn shares these sentiments by stating: “I can tell you now, she is going to blow it away at worlds, I trust her.”
Fun facts about Isabella
Aside from dancing, Isabella enjoys ice skating, art, tech and gadgets, hanging out with friends, playing piano, gaming and Netflix as most 12-year-olds do.
She is a Grade Six learner at the International Maarif School. Isabella is an academic achiever having received numerous awards over the years. She has competed in various spelling and math challenges.
Isabella would like to become a neurologist. She would also like to one day own and drive a G-Wagon Mercedes Benz AMG or a Bugatti Divo.
Isabella acknowledged and thanked all those who have supported her journey.
“Firstly God for blessing me with the talent and skills I have. Secondly, I would like to thank my parents for believing and supporting me in my journey thus far.
“Thirdly I want to thank my various coaches that helped develop my skills. They are, in no particular order, Lynn Steenkamp (Diamond Dance Academy), Charmaine Whaits (Charmaine’s School of Ballet), Laetitia Berry (Laetitia’s School of Dance), Cecile Prinsloo, coaches Chandre, Robyn-Lynn and Kim (Alberton Gymnastics).”
