18 Jun 2013

Tsabong Cultural Centre will on Saturday (June 22) host a polka dance showdown for the President’s Day regional competitions.

Around 12 groups would compete for a spot to showcase their dancing prowess in front of multitudes of revelers across the country at the finals billed for Gaborone next month. Only four of the best performing groups would grace the finals.

Polka is popular in Kgalagadi District, especially with the Afrikaans speaking community and the groups from such communities have been conquering the category with ease.

In 2011, Speel Nog of Polka Group of Bokspits was the inaugural winners and Gareng Ga Dithota of Khawa dethroned the Bokspits group last year.

Notably, half of the competing groups would be from Kgalagadi District. The groups include Speel Nog Polka Group of Bokspits, Kalahari Dancers Polka Group of Struizendam, Gareng ga Dithota of Khawa, Setso sa Tshona Cultural Group of Tsabong, Leikadile Culture Group of Khuis and Morabaraba Dance Group of Gakhibane.

Other groups would be Velkom of Gaborone, Una Mwo of Letlhakane, Ghanzii Polka Group and Tshaba Uzwe also of Ghanzi, Honey Polka Group of Kanye and Bagaka Traditional Group of Serowe.

The dance, which is attributed to Dutch farmers in Southern Africa, is performed by a couple, dressed formally, moving in systematic circles. In some instances, women put on a veil that covers the greater part of their face and at times go barefooted.

The trend is observable on the Bokspits and Struizendam groups. Polka dance is one of the many cultural activities performed during the President’s Day  competitions meant to ensure promotion, preservation and development of national culture and as well as empowering artistic talent.

The polka dance category is steadily carving itself into a formidable artistic activity that is capable of competing for viewership with the popular dances such as tsutsube, phatisi inter alia. ENDS