Mother honoured in touching dance at Nelspruit Eisteddfod
In a touching portrayal of friendship, two young girls dedicated a dance at the Nelspruit Eisteddfod to the one's mother following her passing in March.
As devastating as the loss of a mother can be, friendship and dance has helped this youngster come to terms with her circumstances.
Alexa Snyman and Kaelyn Dupper have been friends since they were toddlers. Today they are both 13, and have a friendship as strong as ever and a love of dance that knows no end.
Alexa lost her mother to cancer on March 1, but she has been brave throughout, with a positivity she decided to embody.
Enter the Nelspruit Eisteddfod, where these two girls saw an opportunity to not only pay tribute to Alexa’s mother, but celebrate their friendship and passion for dance.
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Loosely based on Merida and the wisps from the movie Brave, the dance portrays friendship. The pair were awarded a B+ for their performance, of which they are very proud.
The rehearsing started in the month Alexa’s mother passed away, and was a kind of a break for her, while also giving her the opportunity to spend time with a much-loved friend; a best friend, for that matter. Dancing, the both of them agree, serves as a type of healing.
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Their dance teacher, Sonelca Loxton of Feel the Beat, choreographed the dance, and René Rudder made the costumes. Impressively, Alexa played a big role in the designing of her costume.
Naturally, these two friends spend time together outside the dance studio as well. Weekends in pyjamas in bed is the level of being ‘chilled’ that they are around each other.
For Alexa, Kaelyn is ‘just the best in general’. “She is just so kind and she does not judge people. So if there is something going on, or she is fighting with someone, she handles it really well. She is just, honestly, the best person to me.”
Kaelyn also finds comfort in the friendship; it is a place she can just be. “Alexa is just so comforting. I could literally go to her with any problem and she will always help me and be there for me. And she is such a fun person! I love being around her. We can always spend time together without any stress. I don’t feel like I have to do anything with her, we can just lie in bed together and watch TikTok videos and chill.”
“Spending time with each other is just the best thing,” said Alexa.
