If there is one thing Lilliphé Brandenberg cannot resist, it is a cartwheel.
She does them every day – around the house, at dance class, and whenever she gets the chance. For Lilliphé, dancing is not just an activity; it is the place where she feels happy and free.

The energetic Radford House Grade 1 learner, who is almost seven years old, has been dancing since she was two, after being inspired by JoJo Siwa’s music videos on YouTube. “I saw the dancing videos and thought, ‘Maybe I can do that’, so I gave it a shot.”

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That shot has turned into a growing passion for hip-hop, acro, and classic dance, lyrical and contemporary. Although she enjoys all three styles, acro is her favourite because she loves learning tricks such as backbends and cartwheels. “I really love minis (dancers aged 3–8) and hip-hop too, so it’s hard to choose.”

Her mother, Tracy Eschenburg, remembers first noticing Lilliphé’s love for dance when she started copying hip-hop routines from music videos as a toddler. “She really looked like she would have fun, and after her first class she was hooked.”

The confidence Lilliphé has gained through dance is one of the things her family treasures most. “You can just see her light up when she dances. She comes out of class believing she can do anything.”

Lilliphé’s determination has already led to exciting milestones. She recently performed four routines at Dance X, with two qualifying for nationals – an achievement that left her excited for the competition ahead. When she takes to the stage, she says she is not usually nervous, because she knows her family is in the audience cheering her on. Her dance teachers at Northcliff-based EA Dance have also become an important part of her journey. Eschenburg described their support as invaluable, saying the studio has encouraged both her children, Lilliphé and her brother, Jasper Brandenberg, every step of the way.

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Away from dance, Lilliphé enjoys roller skating, playing with her three dogs and one cat, and spending time with her brother. She also has big dreams for the future, which include to dance in Switzerland or Germany one day, and if she could perform with any famous dancer, she would choose JoJo Siwa.

Lilliphé’s advice to children thinking about starting dance is you don’t have to start with the advanced things. “Start with the easy things and work your way up.”

And why is dancing so much fun? “Because you get to be yourself and just have fun.”

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