Naledzi (9) needs your help to participate in the American Dance Award Festival
Ballet Dancer, Naledzi Thojena Manyuha has been selected to compete in the US in July but finances are her her biggest challenge.
LIMPOPO – Nine-year-old Naledzi Thojena Manyuha of Madombidzha is out to achieve her goal to become a dancer despite the challenges she might face.
Naledzi had the opportunity to compete in the South African Dance Festival where she won a silver medal in the fairy category in April 2021. In August 2021, she was selected to compete in the American Dance Award Festival (ADA) and she won the American Dance gold medal and the Ultimate Special Challenge Award, which automatically entered her to compete in Florida, US in July this year.
Naledzi fell in love with ballet as she watched it on television at a very young age.
Her passion and discipline for dance are evident in the way she pays attention to detail with her moves. She easily captivates the audience and communicates with them through her technique, as if she invites them into her own world.
“I fell in love with the sport a few years ago, and as I started to compete, I succeeded. I fell more in love with dance to a point where I realised that it’s no longer just a sport to me, but rather my passion.” She does, however, need financial support to bring her closer to her dream of competing at the competition in the US.
“It was by God’s grace, as well as my consistency and dedication to training that I was chosen to go to Florida. It was the first time I qualified to go to the competition and I hope that I will be able to participate,” she explained and added that finances are her biggest challenge at the moment.
“I depend on my father, who is a general worker. He uses what he earns to try to put food on the table. Dance is an expensive sport and I need to pay for everything myself.”
The required amount for the trip is R96 000 to cover her attire and travelling and accommodation expenses for her and her parents from July 1 to 14.
Naledzi said consistency and dedication is key to become a successful dancer, and that dance teaches one to work hard, be disciplined and stay focused.
“My advice would be not to let anything stop you from doing what you love. Keep working hard and don’t give up, no matter how many challenges you face. The advice I would have liked to have received when I started out would be that it does not matter how slow you go, as long as you don’t stop,” she concluded.
To help her reach her dream, readers can contact her father, Lufuno Manyuha on 083 488 2821 or 078 110 2122.
