A group of young Mitchells Plain dancers say they are excited after being selected to represent South Africa at an international competition.
The hip hop dancers are off to Poland to participate in the Hip Hop IDO Championships next week.
They are from the Young Dreamers Academy innie Plain, which is being run by Kim Cassels, 25, who has been teaching choreography since 2014.
Kim says her students had to qualify by point system.
They competed in the nationals at the South African Body Of Dance competition held in April to build up enough points to represent SA.
Since hearing they’ve qualified for the international competition, the dancers have each managed to raise the R18 000 needed for their trip to Kielce in Poland.
“Competing in nationals doesn’t always secure your points,” explains Kim.
“They needed to get a space in the finals and at the end of July, the academy was notified that five of the dancers qualified to compete at the Hip Hop World Championships.”
She says this is a big moment for her academy and the students.
PROUD: Kim Cassels, Young Dreamers Academy dancers
“Unfortunately one dancer fell out due to passport and documents that were needed, and the time frame was too short to get them,” says Kim.
The group will receive their Springbok colours on Friday just before their departure.
The dancers, who will represent SA, are Keisha Dampies and Jude Campbell, both 13, Faith Fish, 12, and seven-year-old Aldado Dampies.
Kim says this will be the first time the youngsters would be flying, so everyone is “nervously excited”.
Kim, who gives dance classes at Zone Fitness gym in Mitchells Plain, hopes to open her own studio in the future.
“I’ve been renting for three years, before then I would use the community civic centres in Mitchells Plain. I competed internationally all my life and in 2015 I set a goal for myself, that in 2018 my academy will represent overseas.
“It’s only through the grace of God that it became possible. We are proud to be a group from Mitchells Plain repping SA in Poland,” Kim says.