Ballito ballerina Hanna van den Barselaar-Smith (13) recently danced her way to an incredible victory at the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in America.

The Ashton International College Ballito Grade 7 pupil earned the overall junior solo dance title at the event in Las Vegas, held from July 13 to 21.

Hundreds of performers from 54 countries competed across five performing arts disciplines – acting, modelling, dance, vocal and instrumental – on a stage where Elvis once had an 800-show residency.
“It was my first time competing on a world stage and it was incredible.

“It was everything I dreamed it would be,” said Hanna, who qualified for Team SA through last year’s South African Championships of Performing Arts.

“Honestly, I went to WCOPA hoping to win one medal, so walking away with the overall title made me feel so many emotions – overwhelmed, proud and beyond happy.”

Hanna trains under Courtney Koopmans and Savana Perry at Studio K, whose preparation helped her through multiple rounds of competition.

In the dance preliminaries, she won five gold medals in ballet, jazz, lyrical and open, plus a silver in contemporary, scoring over 90% for every performance.

She also claimed the overall junior champion titles for ballet and open.

For the semi-finals, competitors had to choose just one routine, and Hanna selected a ballet performance from Esmeralda.

“I couldn’t sleep the night before they announced the semi-finalists,” she said.

“When I heard I’d made it, I was over the moon. Then making the finals was a complete shock. I’d get to dance on the biggest stage of my life.”

Hanna was the only South African dancer to reach the finals. She went on to win the overall world junior title against finalists from Ireland and Trinidad and Tobago.

“My favourite on-stage moment was hearing Team SA screaming so loudly for me in the finals. When I won, they were so supportive.”

Although she competes in multiple disciplines, Hanna says ballet remains her passion.

“Training jazz and contemporary makes me a stronger dancer, but ballet is definitely where my future lies.”

She dreams of attending international summer programmes at renowned ballet companies before one day dancing professionally.

“My family, friends, Ashton and the local community have been so supportive of my journey. An enormous thank you to my teachers, Courtney and Savana, for all the dedication and hard work they have put into making my dreams come true.”