Fairland mom dances her way back to herself
Local dancer Liesl Armstrong is inspiring women and mothers to rediscover passion, confidence, and purpose on the dance floor.
For Liesl Armstrong, dance has never simply been about performance.
It has been about resilience, identity, and proving to herself that passion does not have to disappear with adulthood, motherhood, or responsibility. The Fairland resident, who dances at EA Dance Studio in Northcliff, first discovered her love for dance as a defiant 10-year-old. Inspired by her older sister, Armstrong secretly used her pocket money to attend her first modern dance classes in Krugersdorp after her mother encouraged her to focus on sport instead.
That rebellious spark became a lifelong passion. Over the years, Armstrong built an impressive dance career, competing in Latin American and ballroom dance competitions and even earning South African championship titles, but it is her latest chapter that has become the most meaningful. After years of couples dancing, Armstrong recently stepped into solo competition dancing after her partner left the competitive scene.
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Rather than walking away from the sport she loves, she chose to rebuild her confidence and dance independently. “I decided I’m not going to rely on a man to make me look pretty anymore.”
Earlier this year, she competed solo at the Sapphire Cup and took first place, a moment she describes as both terrifying and empowering. For Armstrong, as a mother, dance is deeply personal. She hopes other women see her on the dance floor and ask themselves: ‘Why not?’. “I want my children to see that just because you settle down and have a family, it doesn’t mean you lose yourself.”
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Between work, motherhood, and daily responsibilities, dance has become her release, her motivation, and her reminder that women can continue growing long after life changes. Now, Armstrong hopes to earn her national colours, and one day represent South Africa internationally. “I just want to feel like I can do it, that I’m unstoppable.”
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