A celebration of heritage at Ron Smith

The community of the Ron Smith Care Centre recently gathered outdoors to celebrate the richness and diversity of cultures represented at the care centre.

Residents and visitors were treated to a cultural dance spectacle performed by various staff from housekeeping, nursing, gardening and occupational therapy.

Everyone was dressed up in their various national dress and many of the residents wore hats decorated with South African flags and an indication of where they were born or their cultural roots.

The dance programme included traditional dances from the various tribes of our rich and colourful rainbow nation. The traditional African dances were followed by the whole group performing a Latin American line dance and Israeli folk dance.

Then it was on to Austria, where the staff scattered into the audience and danced with the seated residents to a beautiful Viennese waltz. The show ended with the whole care centre community being invited to join in the last dance to music by the well-known group, Malaika.

The cultural dance show was followed by a traditional South African braai, which included boerewors, chicken, salads, pap and gravy. It was finished off with an Eskimo Pie, which was enjoyed by all.

Ms Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s manager for recreational programmes, said the exposure to the music and dances of different cultures was wonderfully enriching, and was a good opportunity to learn more about the cultural identity and heritage of the residents and staff at the care centre.

“Staff members were excited and proud to be able to share their traditional dances and their enthusiastic participation created a wonderful feeling of unity and harmony,” said Ms Christen.

Many of the residents said it was a joyous celebration and that they all benefited from the event, in that they discovered a new-found appreciation for the diversity of cultures in South Africa and learnt more about the cultural identities of their neighbours.