Naysayers couldn’t stop local artist from fulfilling his dancing dream
Once shut out of a dance crew, Andrice Macuacua is now in top form, dancing his way back with a comeback that turns heads and wins gongs.
At home, Andrice Macuacua, aka X.one.9T, was known as the entertainer, the boy who could light up a yard with his dance moves.
But outside that space, his style was not always understood. On the streets and later in high school, he was mocked as ‘leplanka’, which translates to ‘stiff’ and refers to someone who can’t dance.
Macuacua, now 26 years of age, grew up in Mozambique and was already dancing by the age of four, according to the few memories he remembers.
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“My grandmother used to sell alcohol in the yard, and my love for dance would hook my cousins and me, and we would find ourselves dancing for the customers during weekends and competing among ourselves, and my grandma used to brag about her young dancer.”
Macuacua moved to Diepsloot when he was seven years old. At school, he would still show off his cool dance moves. He regularly entered school talent shows, confidently owning the stage with his moves.
But things changed when he got to high school. Macuacua said he was criticised for his way of moving and grooving.
@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Andrice Macuacua showing off his dancing moves at on of his performance. Video: Reitumetse Gugushe #Fourways #Dancing ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
In Grade 8, he wanted to join a dance crew he admired. However, he was repeatedly overlooked and dismissed, with some reinforcing the ‘leplanka’ label, doubting his ability to keep up.
But the naysayers did not stop him; he danced his way to the top. “Whenever I got home, I would practise relentlessly. Instead of letting their words break me, I poured everything into my dancing and got comfort in it. In time, that dedication paid off. I won the school talent show and finally proved to them, and to myself, and they finally allowed me to join.”
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His persistence and growth culminated in a major milestone this year, when he competed at a Kyalami audition and claimed first place among U20 dancers.
“During my spare time, I’d watch new tutorials to enhance and prepare myself for the competition, and knowing that I fear losing, I had to put on my A game on the stage.”
Macuacua believes his dancing style stands out because it blends the richness of old-school moves with the energy of modern techniques.
This fusion not only sets him apart but also keeps him deeply fulfilled as he continues to grow and express himself through dance.
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