Local dancing sensation to represent SA in the UK
Members of the community with means or capabilities to assist and support in turning Liamanté's World Championship dream into reality are advised to contribute to her Backabuddy campaign.
Twelve-year-old Liamanté Nel has been chosen to represent South Africa at the World Freestyle Dance Championships in Blackpool (UK) in June where she will be dancing in the U14 categories.
The Laerskool Helderkruin learner who resides in Ruimsig started her dancing journey at the tender age of three with Dance Mouse.
A natural-born entertainer, Liamanté joined her current dancing studio DANCECORP in Wilrokrans in 2017 where she is under the watchful eye of her dancing coach, Shannon Dunbar.
Her journey wasn’t an easy one though – her story is one of true perseverance and dedication, what hard work achieves when talent simply isn’t enough.
There are levels in the Freestyle competitive world, namely: Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, Championship and Premier Championship.
Liamanté was stuck in Novice for more than two years, when all of her dancing friends went home with medals, certificates and trophies, she went home with nothing.
When the whole world’s reality turned upside down in 2020 when Covid-19 halted all sporting activities, Liamanté’s world changed forever but in the best way possible.
Her drive, passion, and gratitude for dance were totally put into perspective as to how much she missed the studio.
Coming back to competitions in 2021, she was a completely different dancer, she moved from Novice in March 2021 and had already progressed to Championship by March 2022, and she has exceeded expectations ever since.
Some of her epic achievements throughout 2022 include:
DANCECORP Freestyle Dancing Studio SADTA Examination
• Full Silver Grade Examination – Overall 94% (Honours)
– Foundation – 95% (Honours with Distinction)
– Slow dance – 95% (Honours with Distinction)
– Freestyle – 94% (Honours)
– Rock n Roll – 90% (Honours)
• Level Three One Dance Test – Championship Slow dance – 90% (Honours)
• Level Three One Dance Test – Championship Freestyle – 94% (Honours)
Cheetah Challenge Championships:
• U14 World Qualifier – Championship Freestyle – 3rd place
Majestic Diamond Dance Championships
• 12/13 Championship Slow dance – 2nd place
• 12/13 Championship Freestyle – 2nd place
KZN Freestyle Championships
• 12/13 Championship Slow dance – 1st place
• 12/13 Championship Freestyle – 1st place
• U14 World Qualifier – Championship Freestyle – 1st place
Dance Spectrum Freestyle Championships
• 12/13 Championship Slow dance – 1st place
• 12/13 Championship Freestyle – 2nd place
Free State Ultimate Summer Challenge Championships
• U14 World Qualifier – Championship Freestyle – 2nd place
Gauteng Provincial Championships
• 12/13 Championship Slow dance – 2nd place
• 12/13 Championship Freestyle – 3rd place
South African Freestyle Championships
• U14 World Qualifier – Championship Freestyle – 1st place
According to Liamanté coaches and parents, she lives for her dancing, not just her passion but her coping mechanism.
The young dancer struggles with anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but dancing has changed her life forever.
She dances five days a week and is in the studio 3-4 hours a day, she pushes her limits, her energy is limitless and she never sits still, even at home.
She is not only on her way to becoming a Premier Championship dancer but is also a Grade 7 prefect/ leader at Laerskool Helderkruin.
Members of the community with means or capabilities to assist and support in turning Liamanté’s World Championship dream into reality are advised to contribute to her Backabuddy campaign.
The community’s support would assist with flights and accommodation, UK Visa, competition entry fee, logistics and nutrition.
Liamanté would like to thank everyone in advance for any contribution made towards her dream, she said that one day when she is a famous dancer, she will definitely help other dancers’ dreams come true.
