Deaf learners head for dance nationals

LEARNERS from KwaThintwa School for the Deaf in Inchanga will compete in the National Disabled Ballroom, Latin American and Hip Hop Championships to be held in Stellenbosch, Cape Town in October, thanks to the generosity of surrounding communities and businesses.

Money has been raised for the 26 young dancers’ accommodation, dance costumes and sightseeing expenses through sponsorship and donation,s but the school needed to raise a further R35 000 to cover transport. The staff and learners set about raising the money through a jumble sale, lunches, a raffle and donations. Msinsi Holdings then stepped in with a R20 000 donation which pushed the funds raised to just over the R35 000 needed. The excess funds will be used for a Christmas party for the learners later in the year.

MD for Msinsi Holdings, Dr Makhosi Khoza said they had received a request from the school about helping out. “September is water month so we thought it was a nice way of re -launching our community levy. If the children who are deaf can go to Cape Town to dance, they demonstrate that nothing is impossible which links with our theme of doing what we can to take care of our water supplies. It is important to show our appreciation for what the school is doing and stand united.”

The children began dancing this year with Janelle Yunnie of Dance Basics in Durban through the sponsorship of the KZN Arts Trust Fund. Despite the fact that most of the learners can’t hear the music or even feel the vibrations, the learners have taken to dancing with intense enthusiasm and have progressed so well in such a short time they were deemed eligible for the Disabled Nationals.

During a recent dance performance held for the generous sponsors, the Principal Mrs L. Naidoo said, “Kwa Thintwa means “to be touched”, you can be touched without hearing and when you see these children dance we believe you will be touched in your spirit and soul. We believe in the impossible. For many of these children this will be their first and most likely only trip out of KZN. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to not only dance before an audience but also to see more of their own country.”