Line dancing from back yard to world stage

Two dedicated line dancers from Centurion made a pact to take their passion to the world championships and followed through.

On December 1, 2022, Alison Schostar and Daleen Scheeperswere at a line-dance competition in Ladybrand, the first of the 2023 line-dance competition circuit, when they promised each other that they would aim for the big one.

From Schostar’s back garden in Rooihuiskraal, the two ladies practised, perfected, and trained, and qualified for the World Dance Masters Line Dancing Championships in Blackpool, UK from July 28-30.

“We made a pact that we were going to do this, no matter what,” Schostar said. “We travelled across South Africa, competing and fine-tuning our routines against some of the best.”

Schostar, with seven years of experience, and Scheepers, who started just before the Covid-19 pandemic, said line-dancing differs from partner-dependent dances like ballroom and Latin, making it the perfect choice for those who prefer to dance solo.

“I’m a belly dancer, but a friend suggested we try something new, and line dancing just clicked for us,” said Scheepers.

While line dancing is quite a popular sport, the Covid-19 pandemic had a drastic impact for two years, but the line dancing community was resilient.

Schostar and Scheepers said that they were surprised by the gap between the South African and international standards.

“The international competition was challenging; you had to work your butt off to get to finals,” said Schostar.

To qualify for international competitions, dancers must do well in local competitions.

“You’ve got to be dedicated, you’ve got to put in the work. We did two hours a day to practise.”

Over 600 dancers from countries around the world took part, and out of the 35 representing South Africa, three were individuals not from a dance studio, making the success even sweeter.

“There are four different associations in South Africa, but in Pretoria for the World Dance Masters, there wasn’t a teacher that we could find,” explained Schostar.

She said that they went to three lessons to learn some arm styling techniques, and a lesson two weeks before the world championships, but otherwise, the duo planned and practised what they thought they needed.

“For finals, it was a bit intimidating,” said Schostar.

“Some of the other dancers stood there listening to their instructors, and we just stood there by ourselves. I remember thinking, I have to motivate myself here.

“So before every dance, I wished everybody well. Then I found a negative space where I couldn’t see what was happening on the floor around me, and I found that that worked. I was calm on Sunday, you got to be able to block everything out.”

Their hard work paid off when they made it to the finals, with Schostar securing seventh place in the intermediate category, and Scheepers coming in fifth overall in the novice category.

So why should others give line dancing a try?

The duo said that line dancing keeps you young, fit, and mentally sharp.

“It’s not just for individuals; it’s a great family activity and a fun workout,” Schostar explained.

“If you can count to four, you can line dance,” added Scheepers.

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