Sunninghill dance school wins big

Sunninghill dance company wins big at the Battle of the Giants Festival. High-Performance Dance Education (HPDE) embarked on a journey to create awareness of dance from an Afrocentric perspective.

The 31st edition of the Battle of the Giants All Styles Dance Sport Festival was a perfect platform for HPDE to change the narrative of competitive dance in our country by proudly displaying choreography from an Afrocentric perspective, while they put together a diverse group of dancers.

The co-director of HPDE Debbie Rakusin, choreographed ‘Stimela’ which claimed the World Trial Circuit Production team’s top spot, and was one of the 60 dance schools and over 640 dancers from all over the country that competed in their respective disciplines.

According to Eunice Marais, co-director of HPDE, this was to highlight the lack of transformation in the dance community. “Most of the current work being displayed at competitions is usually modelled on what is current in Europe or America. We felt that it is now time that the people of South Africa and the world, take note of who we are and what we have to offer,” said Marais.

“We entered the Battle of the Giants competition to showcase a choreographic piece by Debbie Rakusin, titled ‘Stimela’. This item pays homage to the late Hugh Masekela, by highlighting the battle cry against the injustices of the migrant labour system in the mines in the 1970s. All the darkness, homesickness, and anger about the evils of apartheid, translate into one of the greatest anthems in South African songbook,” said Marais.

Performing at the most prestigious dance event in SA served as a great platform for HPDE to proudly display an Afrocentric view of dance while putting together a diverse group of dancers.

“We are incredibly proud to have won the production category, and to have been given such a prestigious platform to showcase our work,” said Marais.

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