Schools embrace dance as a new sports code

SINCE dancing requires a lot of skill and athleticism, it is considered a sport around the world. South African schools agree and are adopting the Dance Sport School League (DSSL) as part of their sport offering to their learners.

On Friday, dancers from Pinetown Senior Primary School, Khanyanjalo and Sherwood primary schools, Westville Girls’ High School, Thomas More College and Kloof High School battled it out at the a hip hop dance league fixture.

The competition was divided into age groups, Under 9,11,13,14,16 and was open for both girls and boys.

Pinetown Senior Primary School teacher, Priyashnee Govender said, “We are so proud and excited to be part of the DSSL and we know that dance will help our children, who may not feature in the more traditional school sports, to shine and build their self-esteem and in this way we would be doing our communities and country a great service.”

Craig Bullock, chairman of the Street Dance Association (SDA), which runs the DSSL, said he realised in 2015 that the only way dance could grow, like other sports in South Africa, is to run it through schools.

Together with Nicki Wiggett, they registered a not for profit company and proceeded to trial a pilot Dance Sport School League in Gauteng, which was most successful.

Bullock has already trained 70 coaches and judges in Mauritius and Rodrigues who have adopted the DSSL programme. They are preparing for the first international fixture with South Africa in 2018. Should any school wish to find out more, they can contact Nicki Wigget at nicki@dssl.co.za.