Girls with Hope hosts dance competition
“Even I could not believe it. More children were coming and asking to join the dance groups,” she said.
A Tsakani dance group came out on top at the GWH Street Dance Competition recently held by Girls With Hope NPO at 26 Packard Street, Eden Park.
Tsakani Revolution went up against five other groups, including Inkanyezi, Cyrel The Dancer, Dynamic Movers, Eden Park Drumies and Is’cathulo Sabolova Theatre Production.
The founder of Girls with Hope NPO, Beatrice Dortley, recently introduced a dance competition for local groups and emphasised that for art and culture to be fun again, children have to spend less time on their cellphones and take part in various activities.
“Our children today are not children; they grow up so fast. There is no enjoyment in their lives. All they do is spend their time on their cellphones and sit in front of laptops.
“I am into dancing, although I cannot dance, but it is fun. That is what I want to normalise in our community, for children to have great activities like dancing that can help them stay physically and mentally fit while having fun,” said Dortley.
She said setbacks did not stop her from going ahead with the event. When she sent out invitations around Eden Park, no one responded but that did not stop her from continuing with the competition.
“I was targeting about 10 to 15 groups but only seven made it, including my dance group, which could not participate. So, there were six groups. But I told myself I am not going to give up, maybe they will see what it is all about later and only then people will start enjoying it.”
Dortley said two funeral parlours supported them with tents that were set up in the middle of the street to provide the audience with shade.
“It was so much fun. We had a few tables and chairs for people to sit at. We had music. People came out in numbers with their camping chairs, they were just sitting and enjoying the view because it was awesome.
“Even I could not believe it. More children were coming and asking to join the dance groups,” she said.
Eden Park street dance competition winners
1. Tsakani Revolution won a trophy, medals, a group certificate and R500 prize money.
2. Is’cathulo Sabolova Theatre Production won medals, a group certificate and R400 prize money.
3. Dynamic Movers also walked home with medals, a group certificate and R300 prize money.
The remaining three groups received medals and group certificates.
Future events
The NPO plans to host a modelling competition called Miss GWH and Little Miss GWH.
The event will be held at JD Thomas Hall, Eden Park, on March 12 at 10:30.
For more information, contact Dortley on 063 946 9708.
