Three local aerial gymnasts have qualified to represent South Africa at next year’s World Championships in Los Angeles.

Amani Moolla (16), Hannah Packer (17) and Hanna van den Barselaar-Smith (11) all qualified at the recent South African Championships of Performing Arts (SACOPA) in Rustenburg.

The trio were part of a five-strong team competing from Ballito’s Flipside Aerial and Aerial Flow studios, based at Imbonini Park, which coach aerial silk and hoop gymnastics to children aged 7 and up.

Leading the pack was young Hanna, who claimed five individual golds in ballet, jazz, lyrical and aerial silks, as well as a silver for open dance and bronze for contemporary.

Her performances earned her the overall trophy for best junior in the 5-12 aged aerial division, the grand champion award for overall best female aerialist and grand junior champion for the best U15 performer at SACOPA 2024 throughout all divisions. It was a prize haul that won her a fully paid trip to compete at next year’s World Championships.

Amani claimed silver in the aerial hoop competition and Hannah grabbed two bronze medals, for aerial hoop and aerial silk. Caris Lawrence and Amy-Leigh Larkens can also be proud of their impressive performances on the national stage.

“All five aerialists put their heart and soul into each performance and we couldn’t be more proud of them,” said Flipside Aerial owner and coach, Donna Cameron.

“They represented our studios both on and off stage, cheering on their competition and forming new friendships backstage.”

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