He is young, energetic and highly talented.
Christopher van Staden (22), from Delville, will be showing the country his dancing expertise in the popular show “So you think you can dance.”
Now in its third season, the show flights on SABC1 at 6.30pm on a Saturday evening and, so far, Christopher has made it to the top 16.
He hopes, however, to make it right the way through and win it.
When Christopher originally auditioned for the show, at the UJ Arts Centre in Johannesburg, he was filled with the excitement of showcasing his talent to the country and helping his professional dancing career.
However, he now has another reason to win.
His father, Stefan (47), who lived in Mooi River, died tragically last Monday, in a fire.
Stefan was burning a fire-break at Sycamore Tree Lodge Manor when the wind turned and the fire caught up with him as he was trying to get to safety, and killed him.
Stefan was married to Candice and the couple has two daughters, Chanté Els and Jordyn van Staden.
Christopher was Stefan’s only son and he now wants to win the competition for his dad.
“I want my dad in heaven to be proud of me,” he said.
This was the second time Christopher had auditioned for the series.
He auditioned for season two but was sent home during the call backs.
This time, he sailed through the call backs and, due to his talent, made it into the top 16.
Christopher’s girlfriend, Amy-Elle Lombard, who is currently studying acting in Los Angeles, encouraged him to enter the competition again.
“She is my biggest fan and supports me in all I do,” he said.
“I love her very much.”
During this phase of the competition, there are eight males and eight females and they dance as couples.
They have to dance in a variety of disciplines, from pantsula and ballroom to afro-fusion and hip hop.
For each dance they work with a different choreographer and then, at the end of each show, the bottom two couples “dance for their lives”, during which each competitor does a solo dance.
Although the competition is tough, Christopher believes that it will open many doors for him.
“It is one of the best ways for a dancer to get their name out there,” he said.
Christopher used to train at Diana Moore Dance World, in Lambton, before turning professional and he would love to own his own dance studio one day.
Christopher started dancing at the age of 17 and now freelances as a professional dancer.
He does work for Hayley Bennet-Frieden, Billy Hogg, Lydon Miller-Pegs and Jesse Goldswain and has danced all over South Africa, as well as in the Seychelles and Germany.
He has even danced for the prince of Saudi Arabia.
“It is rare that you can make a living out of dancing, but I have been lucky,” he said.
The former Afrikaanse Hoërskool Germiston pupil told the GCN that his family is incredibly supportive.
His mother, Amanda, is one of his biggest fans and his older brother, Juan Bothma, and stepsisters Chanté Els and Jordyn van Staden are proud of him.
“Chanté has even started dancing because of me,” he said.
Christopher is very excited about the competition and said it is one of the highest achievements in his career so far.
He asks the community of Germiston to support him in his quest to win “So you think you can dance”.
Vote for Christopher and follow his regular updates on Twitter @chrisdance69.
