uMhlanga teenager dances her way to the top
Thanda has scooped many other awards at various other competitions, the latest being at the Natal Festival of Dance competition where she bagged a whopping 19 medals in total.
A 14-YEAR-OLD mover and shaker from uMhlanga has recently earned herself a top award in the dance world, scooping the Dancer of the Year title at the Association of International Dance Teachers (AIDT) Celebration of Dance competition for 2023.
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Thanda Tembe, who hails from uMhlanga, attended the event in Roodepoort in August, which she says is her best win by far. She heard about the competition through her dance teacher, Taryn Makaab Smit, who is a member of AIDT.
“The AIDT Dancer of the Year competition stands out for me as I was awarded and named Dancer of the Year for my fusion/open solo for 2023. I was so happy that the judges recognised and appreciated talent from KZN. I was up against some of the best dancers in South Africa. I felt so humbled and blessed to be named Dancer of the Year,” said Thanda.
“I have been dancing for the past six years with Break-Thru Dance Company. My styles of dance are ballet, modern, hip-hop, tap, contemporary, jazz and musical theatre. I am home schooled and dance for a minimum of 25 hours week,” she said.
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Thanda’s love for dancing started at the age of six when she was still doing gymnastics. A friend from school invited her to watch a Break-Thru Dance Production called Mirror-Mirror at the Playhouse, and that’s when she decided that she wanted to dance.
“I was inspired by so many young and talented girls dancing different styles, and the costumes and the entire stage setting were magical. I asked my mom if I could join Break-Thru, and she signed me up for hip-hop and modern. The following year, we added ballet and, later on, tap. I haven’t looked back since then,” said the dancer.
“Dancing is my happy place as is being at the dance studio every day, learning new choreography and technique. I’m not only physically strong and healthy, but I’m also mentally healthy. I spend most of my time at the dance studio, and I love it. Dance has taught me discipline,” said Thanda.
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