Hoërskool Jan Viljoen’s J-Squad dancers are preparing to travel to Ireland to realise their dream of competing on an international stage.

However, they need the community’s support to make it happen.

Head coach and team manager Bernadene Kruger-Zeelie explained that the hip-hop squad consists of 18 passionate and dedicated learners who eat, sleep and breathe dancing.

“They don’t come from much but always dream big,” she said.

Their journey began in March this year when they placed second at the Dance World Cup and qualified to represent South Africa in Spain. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, they could not attend.

“This sparked a fire that couldn’t be put out. They were even more determined than before. They continued to dance their way to the top,” said Bernadene.

Since then, the squad has qualified for multiple international competitions. They earned these qualifications by competing in the Elements of Dance National Championships on October 11 in Sasolburg. This led to invitations to the Unity of Passion Dance Fest in Hungary and Greece in June next year, the Universal Dance Championships in Ireland and Rome, the Barcelona Dance Experience in Spain in September next year, and the virtual Odyssey of Dance competition.

They were also selected by Elements of Dance South Africa as one of five teams to represent the country at the European Dance Championships in Ireland in June next year.

In addition, the group competed in the Dance World Cup South African Qualifiers for 2026 and won with a score of 88.5% in the Best Senior Large Group category. This secured their place to represent South Africa at the Dance World Cup Championships, also taking place in Ireland in July next year.

“The team is extremely proud of themselves and very excited, as many of them – and even the community – never thought it would be possible for this small school from Randfontein to achieve something this great. They are also quite emotional as we have tried reaching out to multiple companies and radio stations in the hopes that someone could help us with a sponsorship, but we have had no luck so far,” Bernadene added.

She said the squad began preparing at the start of the year, training every weekend for about 14 hours. Weekday practices are difficult due to their busy schedules, but through sacrifice and determination, the squad has shaped into a well-rounded dance group.

Bernadene noted that international travel is costly. They will need roughly R55 000 per person to cover flights, accommodation, competition fees and clothing.

“I personally believe that there is no better representation of our school or community than the J-Squad – these learners have so much pride. They are the embodiment of South African pride, and more than anything, they would love to represent our country on an international stage. They want to show the world how dance is more than just moving to a beat; it’s a way of bringing schools, communities and even a country together.”

Anyone who would like to help make these young dancers’ dreams a reality can contact Bernadene on 083 289 2973 or email bernadenebk@gmail.com.