Seventeen local dancers from Ke Zone Dance and Fitness group were selected to represent South Africa at the international dance festival, Sun Sea Festival Laureate.
The festival, which will be held in Lloret de Mar, Spain, in July, will see dancers from across the globe come together and compete.
Dance instructor and owner of the Edenglen based dance studio, Kerryn Stow, said she is ecstatic knowing that dancers from her studio have been selected.
“It will be a great experience for the dancers,” said Stow.
She said from her own experiences that international events have an “amazing atmosphere”.
“I have represented South Africa a number of times, it will be a great opportunity for the others,” she said.
“When you wave your country’s flag it is a great feeling.”
Competitors will not compete for prize money at the festival.
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Stow explained that the dancers will be competing for their love and passion for the sport.
Once the competition has ended the top four dance teams from the festival will perform at a gala event.
“Because the South African government does not recognise dancing as a sport we have received no funding,” said Stow.
“All the funds we need will come from our own pockets or through fund-raising events.”
Stow said the studio has started fund-raising events.
At these fund-raising events, dancers from the studio perform for the community and sell tickets for a raffle.
Some of the studio’s upcoming fund-raisers include a one-day dance competition at the Karaglen Shopping Centre where participants, from the community, wanting to compete can enter on the day.
It will be held on April 28.
Stow said in addition to the dance competition at Karaglen, members of the dance studio will sell pancakes, coffee and raffle tickets to the public at the centre.
At the end of the event, the prize winner of the raffle will be drawn.
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“So far our fund-raising events have been going good,” said Stow.
In addition to hosting fund-raising events, Stow is appealing to the community and businesses for donations to help the studio.
“I have all the paperwork and letters for the competition if anyone needs them,” said Stow.
For more information visit Ke Zone Dance And Fitness group’s Facebook page.