Skye lights up with fire
In 2016, Skye, as part of a team representing South Africa, went to the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, USA.
Local talent, Skye Zatschkowitsch, when he was just 14 years old, decided that he wanted to take up the art of fire dancing.
He had heard about the performing art through friends who were getting lessons locally.
Naturally, his family had reservations about their precious son and grandson taking up such a potentially dangerous hobby.
Skye was not to be deterred but his family wanted to see if he was really serious about it, worrying that his newest passion was just the latest craze and a short-lived fad.
In order to test his commitment, they told him that if he wanted to carry on, he would need to pay for the hobby himself and do everything himself.
This wasn’t a passing phase for Skye, he wanted it badly and he was willing to prove this to his loved ones.
Unfortunately, the local fire dancing teacher no longer offered lessons so Skye relied on extensive online research to teach himself the art, “I watched some stuff on YouTube, but that’s not always recommended,” Skye told the LETABA HERALD, laughing.
“I was practising three hours a day, seven days a week,” he went on to say.
Soon enough, Skye began to see the fruits of his labour and got his first performing gig after only six months of practice.
He then got through to the semi-finals of the ‘7de laan’ talent show.
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After 18 months, he took on students and was securing bigger performances.
In 2016, Skye, as part of a team representing South Africa, went to the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, USA.
Here, Skye scooped a gold in the ‘Variety Arts without Assistance’ category and another gold in the ‘Variety Arts with under three props’ category.
Additionally, he was awarded the Variety Arts Champion of the Year award.
Now 19 years old and in his matric year at Ben Vorster High School, Skye is busy writing a syllabus on the art of fire dancing.
It will be the first affiliated syllabus of its kind and Skye is excited for the future of his talents, “This is no longer a side act. This is a performing act in its own right.”
Skye said his family are incredibly supportive in his endeavours and after putting his heart and soul into the art for the last five years, they know he is serious.
Skye will be performing at the Dutch Reformed Church (Dopper Kerk, opposite Hi-Q) on Friday, April 20 during the Church Bazaar.
Be sure to be there to enjoy an exhilarating performance by this local talent.
