Redhill learner taps her way to the top

This passionate Redhill School learner continues to give it her all on stage in the name of tap.

Grade 7 learner Anya Fernando was not only recently awarded her Gauteng provincial colours for tap but also qualified to represent South African at the International Dance Open World Cup final in the US next year.

According to the 13-year-old, receiving her provincial colours means everything after all the hard work and dedication that she has put into the art form.

“To [be awarded] Gauteng provincial colours, you needed to have competed in a minimum of two qualifiers and needed an average mark of 75% and up. I practised every day for a week before each qualifier.”

After missing the qualifying mark in her second competition by just 0.70, Anya gave it her all in the last qualifier in order to get that pass mark.

“My tap teacher Mrs Julz and I really pushed [for] that last one, with tons and tons of practice, and made it in. I think it meant so much to me because I was working towards it for so long, and when it finally happened it didn’t actually feel like it happened – it was so euphoric,” said Anya.

She added that qualifying to represent South Africa in the international competition was just the icing on the cake.

“I was so excited because I spent a lot of my early childhood in America and I really wanted to show my friends around and take them to places like Universal Studios.”

Anya hopes that the competition will be able to continue as planned next year because she wasn’t able to make it to the last dance world cup.

“It was said [for Dance World] we would be going to Spain, and then with Covid-19 it was moved to Rome, and then finally to the UK, and I couldn’t go because of the deal with South Africa on the red list.”

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