Umbilo actress appeals for sponsorship

TALENTED Umbilo resident, Sabelisiwe Ndlovu, is appealing to the community and businesses to help make her dream of performing in the US come true by sponsoring her trip to take part in the International Presentation of Performers (iPOP) in December.

Sabelisiwe, a radio presenter, voice over artist and commercial actor and model, auditioned for DMH Model Agency to be a part of iPOP, a platform for performers to showcase their talent in front of international agents and talent scouts in Los Angeles, on 23 March. She was selected and successfully came out on top in the commercial acting category, with what the judges regarded as an incredible performance.

Sabelisiwe previously worked as a radio presenter on Capitol Radio and is currently studying journalism and media studies full time. She said she grew up to have a passion for acting.

“My main interest is in radio, but my personality has always allowed for acting. I enjoyed acting from a young age and used to put on shows for my family. I was always in plays in primary school and did acting classes in high school. I had hoped to study acting after I finished school, however finances were a barrier to making this a reality,” she said.

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Sabelisiwe saw an advert on Instagram for the audition and said she thought she would try out.

“It went so well and the woman who I was performing for said she loved me, and that I had a great voice. I spoke to one of the men who was chosen to go the the US through last year’s auditions and he is still in the US, so it is a great opportunity. A lot of celebrities were discovered by iPOP so it’s amazing. This is an opportunity of a lifetime and I do not want to miss it,” she said.

What might come between Sabelisiwe getting closer to her making her dream come true is the over-all cost of the trip to Los Angeles. She said unfortunately she can not afford it and she would appreciate assistance with sponsorship. The cost of the trip is R75 000, including accommodation, flights, food and her visa, and a deposit of R7 000 needs to be paid in advance.

“I have been trying to get sponsorship from local government departments, but no one has responded. It is really hard and I am hoping individuals or companies can help. Small donations will add up,” she said.

If anyone can help, contact Sabelisiwe on 081 562 4555 or email: peh.ndlovu@gmail.com.

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