From Spanish, Bollywood, rock n roll, Brazilian to belly dancing, you name it, there is nothing the girls from the Fusion Dance Studio in Discovery cannot do.
And the achievements keep coming in.
In 2012 a number of girls from Fusion won their sections in the South African Dance and Model Grand Prix, held by the International Fine Arts Association (IFAA), which included 10-minute dance productions (Burlesque) and 10-minute show modelling productions (Around the world).
Their outstanding performance at the event gave the girls a result of more than 90 per cent, which means they earned their place in the IFAA South African team. Then during 12 and 16 June this year, a group of seven dancers from Fusion – except Jeanè Ludick due to Gauteng Netball Team commitments – packed their bags for Barcelona, Spain to compete in the 2013 European Dance Grand Prix.
Once again the girls delivered, winning the Fusion first award for being the best at the most dance styles.
During the last week of September all entrants from Fusion received a place in the 2013 South African National Talent Championships held at Vodaworld in Midrand, returning with the following results:
• one bronze (79 per cent), six silver (80 to 84 per cent) and nine gold medals (85 to 90 per cent) for the 16 solos.
• one silver and three gold medals for the four duets
• and one bronze, one silver, five gold and two double-gold medals for the group (91 per cent and above) in jazz and mixed styles for the nine groups
The girls’ focus is now on the 2013 SA Dance Grand Prix, which will be held in Pretoria on Saturday 9 November.
Asked how much effort, training and dedication are needed to perform and achieve the way they do, Marlise said, “Dedication is top priority in order to succeed in the professional world of dance, competitions or shows. It’s not just about talent and training. Each dancer has to be 110 per cent committed to dance in all ways, and forms. Once you join dancing, and want to be good at it, your fellow dancers become your family, friends and part of your social life.
“You have to be two steps ahead of the competition. When you slack, there’s always someone around the corner willing and able to take your place – this is also something your family and friends have to be on board with all the way as our way of life effects them in every way. Yes, having to miss family functions or birthday parties is difficult at times, but the people who love us always understand and support us in what we love to do – dance.”
More about Fusion:
• Fusion covers many dance styles such as jazz, cabaret, hip-hop, funk, contemporary, Spanish, ballet, modern, freestyle, commercial (ie cowboy), gumboots, Afro funk, Reggaeton, Brazilian (as in Rio Carnival), Bollywood, belly dancing and rock n roll. The studio also will be begin teaching Oriental (Chinese-style) dancing this year.
• Do stage performance training from the word go, no matter how old their students are, they enter big competitions, do promotional and professional dance shows wherever they’re booked and create professional careers for all their students who take it all the way in making their dreams a reality.
• Fusion is 12 years old.
• Twin sisters Candace and Cindy Faul, who started dancing at Fusion at age 11, has danced in Singapore, India, Seychelles, basically all over South Africa and are currently in the Sun City contract.
• Owner and choreographer, Marlise Burger has danced all over South Africa, Taiwan, Madeira 2002 to 2003 and again the Madeira Carnival in 2008, in the United Kingdom, Swaziland, Mozambique as well as Singapore.
• Details: visit the studio’s website www.fusiondance.co.za, or contact choreographer Marlise Burger on 079 079 8954 or via email at fusiondance@rocketmail.com.
