Taren lines up world champion title

CONSTANT practice, preparation and mental training is what Taren Gaia said contributed heavily towards her becoming a line dance world champion.

By day, the 30-year-old is a chartered accountant and in the evenings she trains at Dance2Dance International at the Kloof Village Mall.

Her love for dance started when she was five and took ballet lessons. Sixteen years later she felt she was not physically able to compete at the top level and felt uninspired and gave up the sport. It was only after she turned 25 that she was introduced to line dancing through her mother. Beverley.

“My initial opinion of the sport was all ‘yee hah’ and square dancing and was most certainly not the type of dancing I thought I was interested in. My mother persisted and I eventually went along to keep her quiet and from the moment I set foot on the floor in class I could not step away,” said Taren.

Three weeks later she took part in her first competition and won. She described the event as diverse, fun and challenging and felt encouraged and knew that it was the spark that rekindled her love for dancing. “I had the opportunity to have the passion and inspiration back in my life again and it was wonderful,” she said.

She recently took part in the World Dance Masters 2016 in Blackpool, England, and was crowned the intermediate open line dance world champion.

Her division is said to be one of the toughest as the age group is so varied, allowing entrants from the age of 25 up to 44. “The level of dancers in that group have years of technical training and some in other styles, while others have gone to dance school. It’s at the level where you are still young enough to do the big moves but the maturity to be in the division,” said Taren. “Having danced with a few of them previously, there was none of the tension on the floor and it feels like we are all dancing with friends and having fun. The camaraderie was amazing and everyone supports everyone. It is a celebration of dance.”

She said her win came to her as a complete shock. “I went completely numb. It was overwhelming. I was trying so hard not to break down before I went up on the stage and had to get some reassurance from the director that I did win,” laughed Taren.

Her coach, Alain Rijnvis, said she was the best student that any coach could have. “She applied herself, would go home and work on the intricate little things and enhance certain phrases in the dance. To watch her go from where she was to where she is now, you would not recognise her. She has grown as a person, friend, teacher and dancer. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”