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Highveld Park High School in Secunda can now organise inter-high dancing contests.

Mr Christiaan Els said numerous kids have shown an interest in the sport and he is already in talks with two other local schools.

March 20, 2018

Arisja Misselhorn 1 minute read

Ayanda Mngomezulu and Fiso Mkhize take the lead in Street Hip Hop during their dancing class at Highveld Park High School last week. Dancing is now a recognised sporting code in school.

SECUNDA – Highveld Park High School is the first school in Mpumalanga to join the DanceSport School League (DSSL) to recognise dancing as a sporting code.

The school first offered dance studies in 2005 as a subject that covers the practical as well as the theoretical part of dancing.

Mr Craig Bullock, CEO of DanceSport School League (DSSL), was invited to give a presentation to Parliament on 20 February after which dancing was approved as a recognised sport.

Highveld Park High School’s dancing department is affiliated with the StreetDance Association that is in turn affiliated to DanceSport South Africa, a branch of SASCOC, the South African Olympics committee.

Mr Christiaan Els, who has been the dance teacher at Highveld Park High School since 2009, explained that the school needed to be affiliated with DanceSport School League (DSSL) in order for dancers to also be recognised as athletes.

“Now our dancers can compete for their national colours in dancing, not just for a small badge on a school blazer to say well done. They now receive recognition from the Department of Education as a South African ambassador of dancing. Our learners can even compete internationally.”

Dancing is an internationally recognised sporting code on Olympic level. The South African Departments of Education and Sport and Recreation have both approved dancing as a sport.

“The learners are taught Street Hip Hop where they must know at least 10 out of the 20 difficult steps and then have to make these their own for the league competitions against other schools. The goal is to involve enough local schools to be able to host an inter-high championship.”

Mr Els said numerous kids have shown an interest in the sport and he is already in talks with two other local schools. Schools may each enter 48 dancers to represent at the school league.

“At these competitions, the dancers must wear their school sportswear with the school badge clearly visible. Each will also receive a number from the DSSL organisation that should be worn on the front of their shirts.”