Kiyaan Naidoo earns spot in North Macedonia Championship
Passionate hip-hop and street dancer Kiyaan Naidoo of Blairgowrie has earned his Gauteng colours and a coveted spot at the IDO World Championships in North Macedonia.
Blairgowrie resident, Kiyaan Naidoo, is set to represent South Africa at the International Dance Organization (IDO) World Championships in North Macedonia this October. The young and passionate hip-hop and street dancer earned this prestigious opportunity by qualifying in the South African Body of Dance (SABOD) National Championships 2024 and receiving his Gauteng colours.
Thamsanqa Kagiso Manzana, Kiyaan’s studio director, expressed immense pride in Kiyaan’s achievement. “The qualification process for this calibre competition is quite intense. We take our dancers through a rigorous training season where they build their approach to the competition before they even get to compete. Our dancers are trained both mentally and physically to compete at a world championship level. This process can sometimes take years to master, and every competition is an opportunity to get closer to that level of mastery in dance.”
Kiyaan shared his thoughts and experiences about the competition. “At competitions, we are exposed to various styles and levels of skills. Competitions are events of great opportunity to challenge myself and connect with others who share my passion. With each competition, my confidence and resilience grow.”
ALSO READ: Line dancers shine on stage
When asked about his feelings regarding his performances and receiving his colours, Kiyaan said, “I am very proud of achieving my provincial colours. It’s a true honour and accomplishment in the South African dance world. My performances were of a high level, reflecting different dance styles to different genres of music.”
Kiyaan attributes his success to hard work and dedication. “I practised almost every day, putting in constant effort and mastering the different dance styles.”
Reflecting on his best competitions, Kiyaan highlighted the SABOD competitions as his favourites. “It is where I have grown and learned, leading up to the national qualifiers where I was chosen to represent South Africa in North Macedonia.”
As a performer, Kiyaan values the discipline and life balance dance brings to his daily schedule. “I get to do what I love with the additional benefits of keeping my body and mind fit, which is so important for every teenager.”
Kiyaan started performing at the tender age of 3 and a half years and has shown remarkable growth since then. “It’s hard to put my improvement into words because my growth has been astronomical in every sense. My dance coach is very dedicated to this sport, and it’s beneficial to have a coach like him who instils the value of intensive training into our everyday lives.”
ALSO READ: Randburg dancer to perform on world stage
Looking ahead, Kiyaan dreams of achieving his South African colours. “We have opted not to compete abroad this year, but we are looking forward to competing abroad in 2025 and making this dream a reality.”
Kiyaan Naidoo’s journey from Blairgowrie to the global stage is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and passion for dance. The community eagerly awaits his performance in North Macedonia and continues to support him in his future endeavours.
