Local dancer continues taking the world by storm
On October 4, Jennifer-Lee competed at the American Dance Awards and received high silver for freestyle, showdance and acrobatics.

Bonaero Park resident Jennifer-Lee Houseman continues to take the dancing world by storm.
On August 12 last year, 12-year-old Jennifer-Lee was awarded provincial colours.
“She competed at Talent America and qualified to represent South Africa in America in June 2024 as the Tripple Threat Winner of the competition,” said her mother Jackie Houseman.
“She received the Tripple Threat award for obtaining the overall highest marks for dancing, modelling and singing and the overall winner for disco in all ages.”
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Jackie said her daughter received two trophies, 12 gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze medal for her achievements.
Jennifer-Lee also received the overall first runner-up award in all ages for disco and the senior second runner-up award for show dance at Eurodance.

At the event, she was also awarded two trophies and five gold medals for her achievements.
In September, Jennifer-Lee achieved 11 gold medals, all a result of A++++ marks awarded for singing, dancing and modelling.
She was then invited to attend the special awards gala evening for the eisteddfod held in October.
“Jennifer-Lee is pleased with her most recent results and continues to work hard towards her goals for America.”
“To add to the above, she has also competed at Talent Africa Regionals and received gold allround for modelling, dancing and singing. She has qualified to compete at the nationals,” said Jackie.
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Jennifer-Lee was then selected as a national finalist, and on October 6, she received provincial colours at SACOPA.
She was selected for Team SA to represent South Africa in America at the World Championships.
“At SACOPA she received gold for freestyle/disco, silver for showdance and slowdance, and bronze for contemporary and acrobatics at the Ekurhuleni Eisteddfod,” added Jackie.
Jennifer-Lee won freestyle, disco, contemporary, slowdance, showdance, acrobatics and category winner for vocal – open, modelling-runway, modelling-formal, modelling-casual, freestyle, disco, slowdance, showdance, contemporary, and acrobatics.
“Between September 20 and 23, Jennifer-Lee competed at the World Dance Challenge and placed sixth for showdance and was in the top 10 for acrobatics and contemporary,” said Jackie.
On September 30, Jennifer-Lee competed at Showstopperz, where she got first in freestyle and disco dance and received two trophies and scored a Saffire Ranking for a score of above 80% for acrobatics, showdance, jazz, slowdance, and contemporary.
She also received two special awards.
On October 4, Jennifer-Lee competed at the American Dance Awards and received high silver for freestyle, showdance and acrobatics.
The American judges applauded her for her grooming and said she was the ‘dance explosion’ of the competition.
The Kempton Express caught up with Paul Steenkamp, Jennifer-Lee’s coach and owner of the Elite Revolution Dance Academy.
Steenkamp said he started working with Jennifer-Lee in 2020.
“I saw this little girl in front of me with so much love and passion in her eyes during and after her first private sessions with me, and I knew this little girl was going to make it in the business as a dancer.
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“I jumped into working hard with her and invested my time and coaching skills into her because I saw she wanted to be the best version of herself,” he said.
According to Steenkamp, Jennifer-Lee from the first day, showed a lot of talent, commitment, and consistency.
Most importantly, she works day after day, month after month and year after year to improve herself in every class she took with him.
He said she worked her way up to all her achievements with hard-core training, was always very respectful towards me as her dance coach and by pushing herself beyond her and my own expectations.
“Jennifer-Leeis a girl who never stopped working on her goals, and by doing so, she went from a beginner to champ level in only 11 months.
“She always puts her goals on a high standard and makes sure she pushes and works hard to achieve those goals at the end of the year.
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“She never disappoints me nor goes down without making sure she achieves whatever she puts her mind on it,” he added.
“Jennifer-Lee does it with a lot of love and passion. She has the skills and the motive to exceed in everything she does.”

Steenkamp said he could not be more proud as Jennifer-Lee dances with a humble heart and soul.
“She always stays humble and loves her dance friends and family. That’s a beautiful quality to have in life and a positive attitude in my eyes. That is how you get far in reaching your goals and dreams.
Steenkamp said he is honoured to be part of such a long ,but worthy and successful journey and to see Jennifer-Lee grow from strength to strength.
“We are definitely not done. This is only the beginning of bigger things coming her way.
“She has now turned in to a ‘bomb fire’ that is unstoppable and working extremely hard for the World Championships in the USA.
“Thank you, my girl, for trusting me and allowing me to be part of this beautiful journey that we are now creating for you. I will be forever proud and forever love you,” said Steenkamp.
Jennifer-Lee has now qualified also to represent South Africa in Serbia in March.