Dancers shine on the word stage
Dancers from Shanleigh’s Dance Academy were selected to represent South Africa at the recent Freestyle World Championships, in Blackpool, England.
The dancers did Benoni proud, particularly 19-year-old Keziah van Vreeden.
Van Vreeden danced four rounds for both the Adult Championship Slowdance and Freestyle sections and made it through each round to get to the finals, where she took the world title for both events.
She started dancing at the tender age of nine and has always had a dream of competing overseas.
“Keziah’s commitment and many hours of training in the studio have earned her the two titles,” said her trainer, Shanleigh Watts.
“She is an inspiration to all the younger students in my studio and I am so grateful that I have been able to work with such talent for many years and be able to shape her into the incredible dancer that she is today.”
Claudia Mienie (9), Denise van der Merwe (9) and Reese Cockcraft (10), from the academy, also danced in Blackpool.
Miene placed fifth in the u-10 Championship Slowdance section and made it into the top 10 in her Championship Freestyle section, while van der Merwe and Cockcraft both got call backs in their Championship Freestyle and Slowdance sections.
Van der Merwe and Mienie also placed fifth in the u-10 Championships Couples section.
Bianca van der Merwe (16) was called back in the semi-finals in the Adult Novice Slowdance section, while Tyla Cockraft (11) got call backs in the u-12 Freestyle and Slowdance Novice sections.
Watts was selected to adjudicate the Freestyle World Championships.
“As a trainer and principal of Shanleigh’s Dance Academy, it was an honour to be part of this global event,” she said.
“The South African team exceeded all expectations and took South African dancing to a new level on the international stage.”
