THE Bluff has a gorgeous, young, rising star making a name for herself in nine-year-old Phumzile Malimba who will be taking to the stage at this year’s Shall We Dance at the Playhouse Opera.
Malimba, who has been dancing for just under two years, loves to dance.
“I love to samba. When I think of dancing, I think of having fun. I enjoy learning new steps. Dancing has helped grow my confidence!” enthused the youngster.
The budding entertainer is incubating her talents at Brighton Beach Senior Primary, currently in grade four. She not only dances but also sings in the school choir. “On Thursday I sang together with the choir. We performed three songs. It is wonderful being in front of an audience.”
Asked how her first time was on the massive Opera Stage at the Playhouse, she shared: “My first time on the stage practising was both exciting and frightening. We are training there three times a week before Shall We Dance opens, so I am getting used to it.”
Malimba began dancing lessons with Dance Basics where she instantly partnered with Jordan Cox (13). Together with her partner, they recently walked away having won the junior bronze ballroom and came second in the silver Latin-American section at the Azalea Festival.
Her dancing instructor, Janelle Yunnie said: “Phumzile is an absolute pleasure to teach. A real little lady. She learns quickly and practises on her own at home. She has grown in leaps and bounds during the lead-up to Shall We Dance and we know that the show will be a positive impact on all six of the little ones.”
Malimba and Cox, together with two other couples are the youngest performers at this year’s show. “We will be doing two dances, the cha cha to Chaba Naledi by Malika and also the jive to Shake by Mango Groove.”
In a dance extravaganza, not only the dancing is impressive but the costumes as well. The young dance troupe will be donning a dazzling and funky tangerine and silver dress for the girls and black and silver for the boys in the cha cha and in the fast-paced jive, the girls are wearing lumo polka dots and the boys are in black and white.
The vibrant character not only shines on the cultural side of life, she is also a keen participant in the school’s athletic team, specialising in the relay and plays a fine game of chess as well. “I got to watch a bit of the Olympics and was most impressed with the swimming.”
What is she hoping to become when she is older? She assertively responds: “One day I would like to be a teacher, I think I would like to teach maths. I also want to continue dancing for as long as possible because I would also like to be a star one day.”
She is well on her way to stardom, as she will be taking to the stage with not only fabulous local dancers but some big names on the international circuit, including Strictly Come Dancing performer Ryan Hammond, and top ballroom dancers Nicolai Bouet from Denmark and Anna Shagalina from the Ukraine, who both represent Denmark in the genre of sport dancing.
Malimba, along with over 100 dancers, will be wowing audiences at the Playhouse in the annual showcase Shall We Dance which runs from 9 to 17 September.
For more info like the Facebook page or to book tickets visit www.computicket.com
