Help local dancer get to Portugal

Sunward Park resident Janè van Niekerk (21) has qualified for five Dance World Cup finals but has never travelled to the event due to financial constraints.

Janè, a dance teacher at Tanique Dance Studio at John Barrable Hall in Northmead, hopes to compete at this year’s finals in Portugal from June 30 to July 8.

This follows a successful outing at the South African qualifier in Centurion in March, where she placed fourth in her category.

“This would be my first time dancing on an international stage. It’s going to be a huge achievement and I’m excited to expose myself to the dancing styles from other countries,” she said.

The Hoërskool Oosterlig alumni has been dancing for the past 17 years. She’s adept in contemporary, modern and hip-hop dancing, which granted her the ticket to Portugal for the finals.

“This trip is important to me. I want to stand on that stage in Portugal and hold our flag to show the world that despite all the negativity with load-shedding and politics, we are standing strong and are one.”

While she’s enjoyed incredible moments on the dance floor, Janè shouldn’t have become a dancer after she was diagnosed with hypertonia as a child.

“I couldn’t walk or crawl and didn’t enjoy the normal experience other babies had.”

It was through her resilience and help from her dance teacher mom, that she overcame her condition and turned into the phenomenal and inspirational dancer she is today.

“I’ve had my ups and downs in competitions but I’m not going to let that bring me down. I’ve been a dance teacher for the past two years. I don’t want to show my competitors my weak spot. I dance because it’s my passion and it’s what I love,” Janè said.

She looks after 20 young dancers in her studio and one of her students’ mom, Melanie Kruger, said Van Niekerk is “an inspiration to the young ones”.

“Janè is the epitome of what dancing is about,” she said.

“There’s no competition where Janè isn’t present to coach the children.”

Melanie and Janè will host a golf day fundraiser at Benoni Country Club on June 21 to raise funds for Janè to travel to the global showpiece in the Portuguese city of Braga.

“The fundraiser is to raise funds for entry fees, flight tickets and passport among other things. There are no other ways and means for Janè to do it in the timeline she has. We are desperate to have people attend this fundraiser.

“Every cent we make on the day will go towards funding the trip to Portugal for Janè to represent her country,” said Melanie.

The format for the fundraiser is a staggered start at R1 600 per four-ball. Tee-off is at 12:00 and they are aiming to get 15 to 20 balls on the day with companies given promotional opportunities by placing their banners around the field.

For more info on the fundraiser, you can contact Melanie on 083 748 4674.

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