STYLIST, fashion designer and model scout, Kevin Ellis, decided to dust off his dancing shoes and take up the sport competitively four months ago, but is now off to compete in the World Championships in Blackpool, England in August.
Joining him at his prestigious dance competition is his dance partner and owner of KZN Rhythm and Dance, Sara Els.
He said he was first invited by Els to a watch a line dance but he was not interested. He thought it was like barn dancing, but it turned out to be very technical and of course has a Latin influence. Since Ellis was a former Latin champ, this type of dancing comes naturally to him.
He is a former South African singles, doubles and triples freestyle dancer and former ten dance (waltz) Zimbabwean Junior champion. He decided to hang up his dancing shoes many years ago to pursue a career in fashion.
The 54-year-old started training with Els four months ago in advanced men’s silver, the showcase duo division and open duo division, which they won in all three sections at the 2015 South African Masters Championships on Saturday, 16 May.
The fabulous dancing duo will now represent South Africa in the World Championships in Blackpool, England from 17 to 17 August. KZN Rhythm and Dance Studio also won the team award, quads and other firsts in the competition in the province. Before the SAs, Kevin went to Johannesburg and won the Solo Style Step Up Gauteng Championships, the Solo Style Melt Down competition and the SA Dance Teachers’ Association Autumn Festival.
With each of these awards, Kevin has won gold and honours for the others.
“Its an honour to be doing this at my age, winning and representing SA in the World Championships. I love it because I have the influence of still ‘over the top’ avante garde style, which I can incorporate into dancing,” said Ellis.
His favourite dance style is the duet, which him and his partner call, ‘Latched’. He said the night before the SA Champs, they rehearsed lifts which pushed him to such a level, and his outfit was completely African-themed, which represented the country and Nelson Mandela.
“The trick of being a winner is hard work, complete dedication, fitness, strict diet and most of all, respecting your coach and dance partner,” said Ellis.
He said after he wins the World Champs he plans to visit Paris, where he can have a photo taken of him on the famous chair in Moulin Rouge where he was once a dancer, he wants to climb the Eiffel Tower, have tea at the Louvre Museum, take a pic with Mona Lisa a boat cruise down the River Seine.
He is then off to Manchester for two days, to where Els strained at a studio when she was 17 years old, and then off to Madame Tussauds to have pictures taken of him with wax figures of the world’s most famous faces.
