A seventeen-year-old dancer of Redhill School placed second with her group at the Dance World Cup in Portugal.
Siyalini Naidoo has been dancing for the past 10 years but has been focused on hip-hop for the past six years. “I’ve been exposed to a lot of different types of dancing and I really started to move towards the music in hip-hop and the flow of your body and I really love that, I love the expression of it.”
In the competition, Siyalini performed three routines. In the commercial small group, Siyalini’s group placed second. In the commercial large group, her group placed third and in the contemporary modern group, her group placed fourth. South Africa ranked third overall in the competition.
Leading up to the competition in Portugal, Siyalini practised five times a week for up to five hours to ensure she was ready to compete. In the world cup, more than 6 000 dancers from 53 countries competed against one another for the world champion title.
Siyalini was preparing for her exams during the competition and said she had learned how to balance her work with her dancing.
“I think because it’s such a passion, it doesn’t really feel like a commitment. It feels like it’s a part of my life rather than an addition to it.”
She has previously competed in international competitions in Denmark and Italy but said now that she was a bit older she felt she was able to absorb more of what was going on around her. About 750 dancers from South Africa travelled to compete in the competition. “It’s amazing to be a part of a group that shares the same passion.”
Although she has competed before internationally, Siyalini added that it was still intimidating to watch other dancers perform. “You don’t know what they have to give on the dance floor and the only time you see them is when you’re waiting backstage… but at the same time, you know that you’re going to give all you have and leave your hopes on the dance floor.”
She concluded that performing in front of people from around the world was a wonderful adrenaline rush because all the work from the past six months culminated in a four-minute dance routine before it was all over.
Details: Redhill School 011 783 4707.
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