Stereotype Society brings dance competition
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday August 11, 2017 15:00
The community-based competition is targeting young talented and energetic dancers in and around the city. During an interview with Showbiz, the society’s founder, Tumelo Bogatsu said the competition aims to promote the local kasi streets dance moves and keep the young people off the streets.
Bogatsu explained that the objectives of the event are to create a fun environment that young people can enjoy without alcohol and drugs, to create a more ‘United and Proud’ Botswana recognising international forms of dance art appreciated and practiced by Batswana, to promote real urban culture in Botswana that builds and is not destructive, to create high-calibre artists (dancers) in both skill and discipline, to develop leadership skills, promoting a sense of cooperation and to build well-rounded performers and individuals.
“We want people who like to explore and express themselves through dance and creative arts. In this competition, we will have four categories, which are the solo performance, all style category, which is basically a mixture of different hip-hop dance, two on two battles, last man standing and a group showcase,” he said.
He said the solo category winner would walk away with P500, when 2 on 2 battle winners would win P1,500, all styles category P2,500 and group showcase winners P3,000. All the winners will also walk away with Stereotype Society branded t-shirts.
Bogatsu added that the event would give him an opportunity to teach people the dance language, as the dancers have started to recognise themselves as athletes. He said the competition would groom local dancers.
“All the winners will partake in our outreach charity drive programme where they will visit various charity homes such as Gamodubu Day Care Centre where they will play with children and teach them basic dance moves,” he said.
However, Bogatsu pointed out that they do not have financial sponsors. He said they will be giving the winners price monies they collected from donations from family members, friends, the community and some will be from their own pockets.
He said not having sponsors would not demoralise them because they are passionate about dance and want to use it to keep children and the youth off the streets away from social ills such as drug abuse and others.
He said the competition is open for primary to tertiary going students of different gender. The event admission will be free of charge. It will start at 10am till 4pm.