A group of talented performers from a Port Elizabeth Irish dancing school came out tops when they won a major category in TV station Kyknet’s Dans in Jou Taal competition and walked away with R50,000 in prizes in August.
The dancers, who were among those from 11 other dance schools from around the country, donned their steam punk masks – made by a Sunridge Park mother from recycled goods – and blew judges and audiences away with their performance of Warrior, scooping the Overall Senior Winners outside of Gauteng title.
Dans in Jou Taal is a televised dance competition, open to all studios throughout SA, and covers all genres.
McWilliams Academy of Dance (MAD) won the Outside Gauteng title which includes a R10,000 cash prize, a R25,000 music dance video which will be aired on Kyknet, and a R15,000 photo shoot.
The finale took place in Pretoria on August 31.
MAD dance instructor Jennifer McWilliams, 53, said winning was a big psychological boost for the dancers.
“This was the first time we had done the competition and we are absolutely elated – it was completely unexpected.
“When we won the Port Elizabeth leg, it was hugely exciting and we went to Pretoria without any expectations.”
McWilliams said the concept of the competition was brilliant.
“These kinds of competitions are always great for kids because it shows them they can do it and it also teaches them the results that hard work brings.
“The dancers put in a lot of extra time ahead of the competition and we are very grateful to Kyknet for making these kinds of opportunities available to South African dance studios,” she said.
“This was also the first time our dancers worked with a filming crew, which in itself is a big deal.”
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.
She was then asked to make masks for the competition.
“I feel privileged to have contributed to the success of such an amazingly spirited, professional dance team.
“I am delighted and optimistically excited about a hidden creativity that had been unmasked and I am thankful to all for the opportunities and continued encouragement,” Calder said.
“It is unbelievable to think that my masks featured in their dance and they won.
“It has been a watershed year for me and I feel so blessed to have been a part of the journey,” she said.
The masks are made of recyclable goods like batteries, watch parts and plastic tubing.
Dancer Tammy Forbes, 16, said: “When they announced our studio as the overall senior winners outside of Gauteng, we were all so ecstatic.
“I am proud of the hard work we have all put into preparing for the competition and I would not want to achieve these accomplishments with any other group of dancers.
“The publicity will definitely help to showcase Irish dancing in South Africa and it gives us the recognition at a national level which I think we deserve,” she said.
Fellow dancer Sarah Sharp, 15, said: “When the announcer was about to call out the overall winner, I remember holding on to the two girls’ hands who were next to me and when I heard our studio name being announced as the overall winner I just felt so proud of us.
“All the hours of work spent in our dance studio were definitely worth it, even though I’m not sure I’ll ever not have some Irish dancing music stuck in my head.”