A group of talented performers from a Port Elizabeth Irish dancing school took to the stage as Kyknet’s Dans in Jou Taal started its filming leg in Nelson Mandela Bay last week.
The dancers, who are in the finals of the show, donned their steam punk masks – made by a Sunridge Park mom from recycled goods – and blew judges and audiences away with their performance of “Warrior”, which was filmed at Sunridge Park Primary School.
Dans in Jou Taal is a televised national dance competition, open to all studios throughout South Africa and covering all genres of dance.
The final episodes will take place in Pretoria from August 28 to September 2.
McWilliams Academy of Dance (MAD) Irish dancing studio owner and teacher Jennifer McWilliams said: “This is the first time we’ve taken part in Dans in Jou Taal and I am absolutely delighted that we have been selected for the final.
“This competition is a wonderful platform to showcase the talent in South Africa and we are thrilled to be representing Port Elizabeth.”
Corinne Calder, 49, of Sunridge Park, grabbed MAD’s attention when she created unique steam punk masks for Alexander Road High School’s post-apocalyptic version of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in May.
“I am so excited that young creatives’ talent and work is being recognised on a national scale because there is this thinking that Port Elizabeth sort of always gets left behind and it is great that they are being recognised like this,” she said.
“It has been such a wonderful experience and it is kind of surreal that my work will be shown on television, but we will wait and see what they look like in the dance.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity, but what is exciting about this is that it could lead to future endeavours along the way.
“It has been an amazing journey so far,” she said.
The masks are made of recyclable goods like batteries, watch parts and plastic tubing, among other things.