Germiston teen dances her way onto the world stage

As August gets into full swing, South Africa celebrates Women’s Month by honouring the courage of the women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956.

This was in the fight for equal rights and opportunities.

Their legacy continues to inspire young women who are breaking barriers and pursuing excellence in every field.

One young teen is 14-year-old Isabella Kharaka from Germiston, whose dedication and talent have seen her represent South Africa on the international stage.

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Kharaka recently competed in the 2026 Blackpool Freestyle World Dance Championships, held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, United Kingdom, after qualifying through a series of compulsory competitions held throughout 2025. Her consistent performances and achievements saw her meet the strict qualification criteria, earning her the opportunity to compete against some of the world’s best freestyle dancers.

A learner at Parktown High School for Girls, Kharaka’s passion for dance began almost as soon as she could walk.

Recognising her natural ability from an early age, her parents encouraged her to pursue the sport.

Now with 12 years of dance experience, she trains at Soul In Motion Dance Studio under the guidance of Lady Keziah Milner and Gabriella Marques.

Kharaka began competing competitively when she was just two years old.

Her exceptional talent was first recognised when she was at a nursery school by one of her first teachers, Sasha-Lee Herbst of Live to Dance, who believed she had the potential to excel and committed herself to helping develop her abilities.

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While one instructor initially placed her in a beginners’ class, another recognised that her skills were beyond her years and promoted her to the advanced class.

There she specialised in freestyle dance, a demanding discipline that combines elements of contemporary dance, gymnastics and other performance styles.

Her journey from a talented toddler in Germiston to representing South Africa on the world stage is a testament to years of dedication, discipline and hard work.

As the country commemorates Women’s Month, Kharaka stands as an inspiring example of the next generation of young women who are proving that with talent, perseverance and the right support, there are no limits to what they can achieve.

World Dance Championships

Kharaka travelled to England with the South African team alongside her coach, competing against some of the world’s top freestyle dancers.

Outside the dance studio, she is equally passionate about academics and sport. She enjoys mathematics and has participated in water polo, diving, soccer and netball. During her time at Bedfordview Primary School, she ranked among the school’s top 10 academic achievers.

This year’s championships marked Kharaka’s second appearance at the prestigious international competition.

Her debut in Blackpool last year served as a valuable learning experience.

Competing in the U14 Premier Championship, she reached the quarter-finals in hip-hop and the semi-finals in slow dance. She narrowly missed a place in the Premier Dance Top 10 after judges selected only the top six finalists. In freestyle, she did not progress beyond the early rounds.

Instead of becoming discouraged, Kharaka returned home determined to improve.

“This year I came back stronger,” she said. “I qualified for my Protea colours again, and I’ve held my national colours for the past four years.

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“I wasn’t always able to go to the UK and compete because of financial constraints. Last year and again this year, my father had to raise funds to make the trip possible.”

Her determination paid off. She reached the world’s Top 10 in freestyle and advanced to the semi-finals, narrowly missing a place in the final after only five dancers were selected.

In slow dance, she finished sixth out of 50 competitors, again progressing to the semi-finals.

Her biggest achievement came in hip-hop, where she came second, finishing second among 49 of the world’s best dancers.

“Hip-hop was stressful, but I kept coming back and danced my heart out,” she said.

“In slow dance, every year the judges are looking for something different.”

She also drew inspiration from some of the world’s finest dancers, including Ketty Ross, whom she describes as one of the strongest freestyle dancers internationally.

Guided by world-class coaches

Kharaka believes she has benefited immensely from being coached by dancers who have themselves competed and excelled on the world stage.

“They know exactly what it takes to reach the top of the mountain,” she said.

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Preparing for Blackpool required months of sacrifice. As the only dancer from her studio preparing for the World Championships, she trained virtually every day throughout the year, combining technical dance sessions with fitness training and mental preparation.

Looking back, she believes the difference between her first and second trips was confidence.

“Last year was more like an introduction. I experienced the huge dance floor, the atmosphere and performing in front of international judges.

“This year I was ready to conquer.”

Her family now hopes to secure sponsorships early to support future international competitions.

“We want to qualify again and bring home the overall titles,” said her mother Relebohile Julia Koatsa.

“But competing internationally is expensive, so we have to start knocking on sponsors’ doors early,” she said.

Coach/instructor Lady Keziah Milner said qualifying for the World Championships is an achievement in itself.

“Dancers have to qualify a full year in advance and finish among the top six in South Africa before they can represent the country,” she explained.

“Isabella spent an entire year training different routines, improving her fitness and dedicating herself solely to preparing for the World Championships.”

Milner, who has coached Kharaka since she was nine years old, said her growth has been extraordinary.
“The way she has developed over the past year is mind-blowing. I wouldn’t even say she’s the same dancer anymore.

“As a teacher, I couldn’t be prouder because she isn’t only representing my studio; she’s representing South Africa.”

She described Kharaka’s second-place finish in hip-hop as one of the competition’s standout performances.

“To place second in any category at the World Championships is an incredible achievement, especially in such a competitive division.”

Milner understands the demands of competing internationally.

She qualified for the World Championships herself at the age of 17 and went on to win both the freestyle and slow dance world titles for South Africa.

“I’ve seen many talented dancers over the years, but I have never been so proud to be Isabella’s teacher.
“She still has so much more to achieve, and I believe her journey is only beginning,” said Milner.

Fellow coach Gabriella Marques, who finished second in the world in the adult premier freestyle division in 2022, praised Kharaka’s attitude and willingness to learn.

“Isabella is incredibly hardworking and a pleasure to coach,” she said.

“She accepts constructive criticism, constantly wants to improve and genuinely wants everyone around her to succeed.”

Marques said Kharaka returned from her first World Championships with renewed determination.

“Last year she came home wanting to become even better. This year she went back to England and danced her heart out.”

Having experienced Blackpool herself, Marques now focuses on preparing young dancers mentally as well as physically.

“I help them build confidence, stay healthy, remain calm under pressure and develop the right mindset.
“Dance has evolved rapidly over the past few years. The level expected internationally is incredibly demanding, and social media has become a major influence.

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“Because South Africa is geographically isolated from many of the world’s top freestyle dancers, we constantly study international trends online and incorporate those standards into our training.”

She said accompanying young dancers to Blackpool as a coach has become especially rewarding.
“Going back as a teacher rather than a competitor is very special.

“Yes, we went there to compete, but we also made wonderful memories together, explored Blackpool, visited the arcades and enjoyed the experience as a team.”

For Kharaka, however, the journey is far from over.

With another successful World Championships behind her, her sights are already firmly set on returning to Blackpool, this time with one goal in mind: bringing a world title home to South Africa.