WATCH: Local teen shines at dance championships with double gold in Spain
A local teen dazzled on the world stage at the WCDF World Championships in Spain, bringing home two world titles and a promotion in his division.
Joshua Oelofse (14), a Grade Eight learner at Hoërskool Die Anker, recently returned from the World Country Dance Federation’s (WCDF) 18th World Championships, Benidorm, Spain, with not one but two world titles.
Competing in the newcomer teen male division, he performed nine line dances across multiple categories, earning first place in every one. His results earned him a promotion to the novice category, as well as world champion titles in classic and modern basics line dance.
While he only began line dancing a little over a year ago, his dance journey started three years ago with ballroom and Latin styles. He credits this foundation for helping him perfect his form in line dancing.
Incredibly, he learnt four of his nine routines performed in Spain just two weeks before the competition, a feat his instructor, Yuveldi van Heerden, said took immense discipline and dedication.
Line dancing comes with its own strict set of rules, such as never letting your number be obscured and always keeping your cowboy hat (stetson) securely on.
The dancer also had to manage tight transitions between events, with just three minutes to change costumes for each dance, compared to the usual five to 10.
Despite the intensity of the championship, the young dancer found time to enjoy Spain’s attractions, including a nearby amusement park, clean beaches, and a bustling night market where he tried takis – sour blue rolled tortilla chips.
His mom, Petro Oelofse, is proud of what he accomplished in such a short time. Of Spain, he said he stayed in a five-star hotel and took in historical landmarks around Benidorm.
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Next year’s WCDF World Championships will be in Germany, and preparations are already underway. He’s saving up for the trip and, in the meantime, is working toward earning his teaching qualification to help guide newcomer and novice dancers.
His biggest inspiration is Johan Labuschagne, a 15-time world champion in line dancing and the owner of the Kroonstad branch of the Dancing Stars Dance Studio, as well as Yuveldi’s mentor.
For Joshua, getting started in line dancing was difficult, and at first, he didn’t want to do the more modern routines, but now they are his favourite.
His advice to newcomers? “Don’t give up. Work hard.”
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