Lifestyle

Grandmasters dance challenge is on

Mophato Dance Theatre PIC. THALEFANG CHARLES
 
Mophato Dance Theatre PIC. THALEFANG CHARLES

The Grandmaster Dance Challenge 2017 is scheduled to take place on Saturday at Maitisong Theatre with more than 50 dancers ready to dance off.

Winners for this year’s event are expected to walk away with different packages including mentorship from local and international dance institutions. “This is a platform whereby we try to promote modern dance styles and dancers from different background by creating a platform where they can all meet and compete with each other,” Tshepiso Koosimile the event coordinator said. With modern dance they are referring to categories such as hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, latin and pantsula. 

“We urge urban dancers of different age groups to come and compete. Our main objective is to have modern dance recognised in the country and make it a career for a number of people,” he said.

Despite it being a competition that has dancers from different backgrounds competing there will be a panel of judges looking at different elements, as they will be selecting the winners, runners up in the children and adult categories.

Winners will be awarded different packages such as a trip to Sun City, mentorship by South African dance schools one called Dance Culture and the other one Happy Seeds.

Local ensemble Mophato Dance Theatre will also take the winners on an internship programme. Alliance Française will also work closely with the winners, who will also receive trophies.

The competition started last year attracting dancers from different backgrounds, but due to lack of support it did not execute the first event well despite having a number of talented competitors.

Also it has been a few individuals that have managed to establish dance careers because it is not fully recognised as a profession.