Young dancer impresses in Portugal

Tiannette Wessels has had a successful year on the dance floor and made many memories along the way.

The Grade 12 learner from Hoërskool Monument placed in the Top 15 in her age group at the Dance World Cup held in the city of Braga, Portugal recently. For nine days, Braga turned into a world of dance excellence as dancers of all ages and backgrounds showcased their skills and talent on the international stage. The Dance World Cup, seen as the Olympics of Dance, is an annual event where more than 7 500 dancers from over 50 countries along with an amazing line-up of renowned judges, choreographers, and enthusiasts from all corners of the globe come to celebrate the beauty and diversity of dance.

Tiannette has been dancing since a young age and it was at the Just Dance Studio in Noordheuwel where she found her rhythm and groove. She has always been passionate about dancing describing it as a language that allows you to express yourself without saying a single word.

“I love that I can tell a whole story without saying a word and the fact that I never have to stop learning about new ways to move and new dance styles. It gives me an immense amount of joy.”

For Tiannette, having gone to Portugal to compete against other talented dancers was a very surreal experience.

”This was my second year participating in the Dance World Cup as it was held in Spain in 2022. This year it was hosted in Portugal and saw the most entries there has ever been. I am proud to have been part of something so huge and not only did I get to dance on a stage in front of the world’s best international judges but did I get the opportunity to take classes with mentors from England and France. I also made friends from all over the world,” Tiannette said excitedly.

Tiannette’s goals would not be possible without the help of her coaches, friends and family.

“I could not have done it without my teachers Tania Jansen van Vuuren, Caitlin Maritz and Rozaan Rundle. It is then no surprise that without the love and support of my family and friends, none of it would’ve been possible,” she emphasised.

With accomplishing one mission there is always a new challenge on the horizon and for Tiannette this is just the beginning of more to achieve.

”’I hope to book jobs all over the world and dance everywhere I go. I want to be on stage forever, dancing back up, and going on Broadway. My biggest goal is to be a role model for everyone who thinks they started doing something too late in their life and show them that if you want it badly enough you can achieve anything.”