Local dance crews step it up
Daryn Wood
THREE hip-hop crews from a Walmer dance studio had all the right moves when they were awarded Eastern Province colours last month at the provincial trials.
The 18 dancers from Dance Unique will step it up a notch when they compete against the country's best during the South African Fitness Sport Aerobics Federation national championships in Kimberley tomorrow and Saturday.
Teams had to obtain a score of 6.5 or higher at the trials to qualify for the national competition. The Dance Unique teams all scored above 7.
Studio owner, instructor and dancer Dominique Glass has high hopes for her squad and aims for a score of 8, which will earn them their South African colours and a chance to head for Serbia for the world championships in October. "The dancers have been practising nine to 10 hours a week, and most of them are also writing exams," Glass said.
The crews will be marked on their ability to perform various styles of hip hop, their technique, formations and most importantly, the energy level among the dancers. Dance routines will last two minutes.
Dance Unique instructors – Glass, Jean-Marc Suntah and Andrea Morris – have more than 30 years of dancing experience between them.
"We have been working extremely hard to get our routines as perfect as possible. We are excited about the way our routines are coming together and to show South Africa what we are made of and to do Port Elizabeth proud," Morris said.