22 May 2016

The director of the Francistown Unified School of Dance, Tebogo Gaseitsiwe says the response at her school which was launched last year has been overwhelming.

In an interview with BOPA at the school winter Ballroom and Latin competitions on May 21 at Clifton School, Gaseitsiwe said the school which started with only six children has grown to register 25 and 12 adults have also shown an interest in learning the dances.

She said started the school because she realised that in Francistown there was none. Gaseitsiwe noted that dance brings happiness and also boast one’s confidence.

She said the school teaches children from as young as four year olds how to dance different styles such as Chacha, Jive, Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble, Waltz, Quickstep, Tango, Viennese Waltz and Fox trot.

Regarding the competition, Gaseitsiwe said it will gives exposed the children to the competition environment and other dances. She said by inviting professional dancers in names of David Moathodi and Seeletso Molatedi who compete international the children will have the feel of what competition is all about.

She, however, said although the school ran other competitions but with the winter competition decided to up the standard. She further explained that since the school was started last year in February it competed for the first time in Palapye at the national competitions where it sent 14 couples and ten brought home ten medals.

In the weekend competition, which was made of children and adult couples, the Gilbert Mosweu and Gorata Kenyaditswe of Latin Super Star dance club scooped the first position pocketing P1000 while Tshepo Mogatle and Lebogang Mookiemang of the same club were in the second position winning themselves P500.

Boki Manji and Tshoganetso Sammidi still of the Latin Super Star became scooped the third position winning themselves P250. In the fourth position was Thabiso Phirinyane and Koketso Gobotswang of Concept dance club while in the fifth position was Ronald Pule and Kesego Lopang of Latin Super Star dance club.

Couples who participated in the children category, which was mostly under 13 year olds were awarded with certificates. Swaneng dance club also participated in the completion and Gaseitsiwe noted that the ball will be an annual event.

She further said her club will compete in the national competitions which will be held in September at the Limkokwing University 

Meanwhile after the competition, the audience got an opportunity to undergo a seven minute session of learning the dance basics for the first time and those who got position one, two and three were given a form of recognition.

One of the adjudicators at the competition was the South African based adjudicator, Mpho Kgatla. ENDS