News
Rhythm, Dance, and Victory!
Anticipation and nervous excitement frosted the chilly air at the St. George Hotel on Saturday morning – it was the first Provincial Championships that Rhythm Dance Studio entered, despite being a regular at the National Championships each year. On this occasion, 15 August, RDS planned to make it memorable!
The South African Social Dance Foundation had organised a beautiful venue for the social Ballroom and Latin-American Dance Championships of the Gauteng region for 2009, and the turnout was fantastic, with 12 studios competing. Rhythm Dance Studios had 15 competitors on the list, all determined – and anxious – to take home a few trophies. The competition looked to be tough, as the standard of teaching in Gauteng is high, and the nature of the studios highly competitive. Rhythm Dance Studios (RDS), situated in Cresta, JHB, has a well-earned reputation for their always excited, fun-filled and vocal participation in such events, as well as always having their names in the awards category – coming in at second place for the Spirit Trophy at this year’s Provincial Championships came as no surprise to a studio accustomed to enthusiastic, vibey and joyful participation in events such as these.
The program was jam-packed, and the competitors had invested much in their stunning outfits and polished routines – there were enough sequins, feathers and lace to satisfy even Liberace, and the tables were bedecked with everything from fondue-fountains to mannequin-legs in fish-net tights! RDS’s own windmill completed the Moulin Rouge theme for their allocated tables.
After a long day of hard dancing (and a well-organised format for the competition), RDS walked away with a basket full of trophies, medals and certificates that were hard-earned throughout the Youth, Adult, and Masters sections. RDS Students J.P. Viljoen and Katryn Oosthuizen were awarded first place for both their Ballroom and Latin Sections in the Bronze Prelim category, and wowed the crowd with a beautiful, haunting Bolero exhibition based on the soundtrack to The Phantom of the Opera – it was there very first competition ever, bringing much joy to their instructor, Charis McKeever.In the Bronze Intermediate category, RDS Students Joyce Smith placed first in both Ballroom and Latin, and rounding out the podium with a third place from Cynthia Magwaza.
A very full, and highly competitive Bronze Final section, was danced by six RDS students – titles were awarded to Romana Kastenhofer (first place for Ballroom, third for Latin), Laura Crewe (third place Ballroom, second place Latin), and Jade Mallinson (sixth place for both Ballroom and Latin). Fellow students Kerry Nance-Kivell and Nicky Higgo held the RDS banner high and performed with passion and dedication, Nicky earning a well-deserved 85% mark for her sexy Latin Medley Exhibition.
Long-time RDS students Vanessa Francis, Dorothy Pringle and Daisy Day took equally impressive titles in their Silver Final section by grabbing a first place for Ballrooms in the Master’s section (Vanessa Francis) and a tie in second for Latin’s! RDS’s Kim Randall’s first entry into a Championship event was a great success as she swept the floor with her competitors, taking first place for Ballrooms in the Adult section. Daisy Day, a Gold Final student, was the picture of grace and elegance as she danced her way into first place for her Ballroom section.
The day was rounded out by the stunning performance of RDS’s Ali Anderson and Robynne Reed competing in the Professional Gold section, where they debuted with glitz and shimmer, swaying hips and vibrant choreography, walking away with the trophy for the section! The RDS Cheerleading Team (family and friends of the teachers and students) were left without voices – hoarse from their enthusiastic support – but returned victorious, elated and already working hard for the South African National Championships, scheduled for December 2009.
