In 2000, while entering a new and exciting century full of promise, Natasha Rizzo noticed that there wasn’t a single hip hop studio in Krugersdorp, and very few in Johannesburg in general.

Natasha had just returned from studying the art of dance in Hong Kong and felt an urge to start something of her own.

Synergy Worx Dance Studio was born and 20 years later, towards the end of December 2020, 64 of their dancers celebrated this momentous occasion at the Gold Reef City Theatre.

The dancers, in group or solo sets, performed dances representing every year of the studio’s existence.

“I would say our most memorable was our rendition of pop icon Michael Jackson’s Thriller. It’s been a crowd favourite and many of our dancers, as they progress through the year, have danced to it.

“Another crowd favourite was our toddlers’ … Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, and the more provocative themes such as our contemporary piece about mental health issues titled Asylum, and Uprising with the Soweto uprising in 1976 as theme. Then, of course, there is a 2020 routine about life in Covid-19 titled Pandemic, which was performed as a solo by our Dancer of the Year, Chante Fransisco,” said Natasha.