Dance lovers from across the Bay were treated to a spectacular show at the weekend, with a gala evening celebrating the achievements of the talented performers who took part in the annual Nelson Mandela Bay Dance Festival.
The finale of the six-day festival, which started last week, wowed audiences with a stellar event which showcased some of the best performances from individuals to groups in a myriad of dance genres.
From sassy modern dancers to graceful ballerinas, foot-stomping hip-hop and more, the roof of the Savoy Theatre in Parsons Hill was raised, with the audience clapping and tapping along to the music and energy of the performers.
This year, marked the 42nd instalment of the festival, with dancers from 22 dance studios across the Eastern and Western Cape taking part in 1,319 performances.
NMB Dance Festival chair Nici Lovemore said she was delighted that the festival had been such a success on many levels.
“With the support of our new sponsor, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality’s department of arts & culture, the spotlight is firmly on our region as an exceptional source of dance talent, proudly showcased on our stage throughout our festival week,” Lovemore said.
Twenty-eight of the festival’s top performances were selected for the gala evening which included the championship winners performing for each genre.
Dancers were assessed by internationally acclaimed and experienced adjudicator and choreographer Desiree Green-Demianenko.
Gauteng-based Green-Demianenko, who owns the One Step Ahead Dance Studio, recently returned from adjudicating the World Lyrical Dance Federation event in Dublin, Ireland.
“I feel both honoured and privileged to have been invited to judge these incredibly talented dancers at the prestigious dance festival this year,” Green-Demianenko said.
The show kicked off with a stellar performance by a group of local rhythmic gymnasts from the All Starz Academy who performed an African-inspired fusion dance to the delight of the audience.
As a special treat, Hannah Stighling, who will be playing the lead role of Tracy Turnblad in the upcoming musical Hairspray, gave the audience a glimpse of what to expect when the show hits the stage next month at the Savoy.
The evening’s highlight was the presentation of all the awards, trophies and all genre age category section winners.
The Ballet Championship winners were spread over a number of studios.
For the girls: junior champion from Walmer School of Dance was Lucy Hutchinson; junior runner-up from Candice Johnstone Dance Academy was Vanilla Sponneck; senior champion from Susan Herbst School of Ballet was Rebecca van Huysteen; and senior runner-up from Dance Dynamics was Kaitlynne Horne.
Ballet Championship awards for the boys: junior champion, Ncedakele Meleni and junior runner-up, Moses Nehemia, both of Robyn D’Arcy — The Studio, and Wyatt Ludick, senior champion from Candice Johnstone Dance Academy.
Gabriella Manuela Dos Santos and Likhaya Loyiti of Natasha Tait Dance Studio were selected as the Modern Dance junior girl and senior boy champions.
Gabriella was also the Modern Age Category Section winner (13 and 14) and Likhaya was the Modern Age Category Section winner (15-17).
Likhaya, who also dances for Susan Zerbst School of Ballet, was awarded the senior runner-up champion, the Nelson Mandela Bay Dance Festival amateur ballet senior bursary winner, as well as the Best Senior Dancer and the Ballinger Bursary of R5,000 for dance expenses.
Polished dancers from the Candice Johnstone Dance Academy scooped many of the modern dance champion awards which included: Meg Wentzel as junior runner-up, Aisha James the senior champion, Gemma Ferreira the senior runner-up, Oliver Emms the masters champion and Ogi’yonke Oliphant won the masters runner-up.
Defying Gravity’s energetic dancers gathered up the hip hop awards, including: Kelly Schoeman (senior champion); Lathi Mgwebi (masters champion); and Kelly Mathiesen (masters runner-up).
Both tap champions were from the Totally Tap Dance Studio — Caryn Phillips (junior champion) and Lia Faniko (junior runner-up).
Carmen’s School of Dance won the Hermie Award Trophy for the Best Ballet Group performance titled “Time for Tea” and their dancer, Celyn Godfrey, won the adjudicator’s choice award and the Little Cherub Dance Wear voucher for the best junior.
Dancers from Candice Johnstone Dance Academy shone at the awards, with Mila Jackson receiving the Jenny Award for the most promising senior as well as the Dance Festival Modern Bursary for the amateur modern senior award.
Olivia Emms won the Ballinger Lovemore Trophy for the best senior student choreography and Wyatt Ludick won the Marlene Rubidge Live the Dream Trophy for his stage presence and performance.
Thalia Daniels from Feet on Fire won the Merille Lane Platter for the most promising junior dancer and Nicole Hills, of Defying Gravity, won the Dance Fest Hip Hop Trophy for the most promising hip-hop dancer.
Nicole Joka of the Prestige School of Dance won the Little Cherub Dance Wear Trophy for the most promising tap dancer, and Asiv Matai, of Totally Tap, won the Tap Bursary for the Amateur Tap Senior Award.
The Dance Fest Hip-Hop Award was shared between Kelly Schoeman of Defying Gravity and Ashleigh Maling-Nel of Dance Dynamics.
Zelie de Villers won the National Trophy for the best junior dancer and The Warrior of Sidwell Roman School of Ballet won the National Trophy for the best senior group.
The Best Hip-Hop Group Trophy was awarded to Beyoncé of Feet on Fire, and the Best Modern Group Trophy was awarded to Requiem of the Abbi Geldenhuys Academy of Ballet.
Lisle Ferreira of the Hosking Academy of Dance won the Jean Cunningham For The Love Of Dance Trophy.
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