This 13-year-old is twirling his way to the top after starting ballroom dancing a year ago.
Ysterplaat Primary School pupil Matthew van Hansen, 13, and his partner, Kayleigh Lakay, achieved fifth place in both the provincial and national Latin and ballroom tournaments for their age group last year.
Matthew was abandoned as a baby and his proud father Riaan van Hansen says he still remembers when he saw his son for the first time in 2005.
Riaan's then-wife was a nurse at Groote Schuur Hospital when was found wrapped in newspaper with ants all over him.
“I noticed how malnourished he was with an enlarged head and big eyes ... Thankfully, his biological mother called the authorities and that’s how he ended up in our care,” says Riaan.
He said he and his wife divorced, were unemployed and ended up living in a shack in Ysterplaat before he got his job as live-in caretaker at the school.
“Matthew chose to stay with me and, even though he can be naughty, he is still my little blessing. Ballroom has improved his behaviour and kept him focused,” says Riaan.
Teacher and ballroom instructor Angelo Harding said Matthew was a natural.
“He couldn’t keep his eyes off the dancers but when I asked if he wanted to join us, he would just say no. Eventually he asked to take part and soon I had to move him to a more advanced group,” said Angelo.
“Achieving fifth place, considering they were participating against more experienced dancers, is remarkable. Our only challenge is sponsorships as many of our young dancers need backing to participate in competitions,” said Harding.
Matthew said he was shy in the beginning and considered ballroom a “sissy” activity.
“I always wanted to do something in engineering, but now I want to keep dancing and competing. Hopefully I can start my own studio and maybe teach kids like me,” he said.
With the possibility of ballroom becoming an Olympic event, he envisions himself representing his country one day.
Anyone who would like to get involved can contact Harding on 073 727 7708.