La Danse Panier unveil young dancers
Spira Tlhankane | Wednesday December 9, 2015 14:54
The dance show was themed “Step into Christmas Dance Show 2015” and in attendance was Minister of Education and Skills Development, Unity Dow. who gave a word of encouragement to the young dancers. Dow said the dance show was enjoyable and heartwarming. “These children have potential and excellence. It goes on to show that arts, like other disciplines, need fulltime teachers,” she said.
Dow said as they reform the education sector in Botswana, they should include arts fulltime. “The arts has to be fulltime so that our children can also become stars,” she said. She thanked La Danse for recognising talent at a young age. “Before 2017, we should include arts in multiple pathways so that we don’t force our students into wrong careers. The world needs dancers as well,” she said.
The founder of La Danse Panier, Kelebogile Dingalo, said the studio’s core business was to provide children from ages of three with different type of dance classes.
“This is a platform which avails dances that celebrate unique ethnic and cultural traditions to children and also provide physical, developmental and artist benefits to children,” she said.
Dingalo said La Danse helps toddlers to develop a positive lifelong attitude about staying active and healthy from a young age.
“Our intention is to build up our activities and assist government to instill a sense of discipline among the children and offer multiple pathways within the education sector,” she said.
The show started with little children as young as three years gracing the stage clad in pink outfits. They displayed dances, mainly ballet. The next group was made up of an older crowd of children aged between seven and 12. They danced to a much faster song with an African rhythm.
The dance pieces all came in patterns as the toddlers mixed with their seniors to create a beautiful atmosphere. The dances ranged from ballroom, Latin American dance and hip-hop. Some did their freestyle to showcase their individual talent. The annual dance show will return again next year for its third installment.