Roodepoort’s self-taught dancer becomes multi-world champion

Jumah Mohammed, self-taught Solo Ballroom and Solo Latin dancer, returned from Poland with a record number of titles, cementing his place as a multi-world champion.

The World Artistic Dance Federation (WADF) Championships took place in Bydgoszcz, Warsaw in June, and Jumah stunned the international dance stage, bringing home a haul of medals and becoming the first South African to be honoured in these categories.

His medal haul included:

• World Champion in Viennese Waltz and Slow Foxtrot
• Gold in Waltz, Tango, Quickstep
• Gold in Samba and Paso Doble
• Silver in Cha-Cha, Rumba, Jive

Jumah’s impressive achievement comes just after he won his first world title in April.

“I started dancing alone, not by choice, but because I had no other option,” he says. “I couldn’t afford coaching. There were no sponsors, no team behind me. It was just me – recording videos, fixing my technique, making my own costumes, and pushing through every barrier.”

He started dancing solo during Covid-19, when he found himself dancing in isolation, using whatever space he could find. “There was no partner to dance with. So I became my own partner. There were no competitions. So I trained like I was preparing for one anyway.”

In 2023, he earned second place at the World Dance Council Amateur League Solo World Championships and in 2024, he claimed other titles, becoming the All Africa Solo Ballroom Champion, European Solo Ballroom Champion, and placing third at the World Dance Council.

“I’ve carried my bags, done my own hair, and ironed my suits at midnight before competitions. I’ve competed injured, exhausted, and afraid. But I kept going. Because I believed that if I just held on long enough, something extraordinary would happen.”

Today, Jumah shared his knowledge through the Saint Ballroom Dance Studio at the Witpoortjie Recreational Centre. There, he trains beginners, social dancers, and competition students – many of whom, like him, started with nothing more than a desire to learn.

“I tell my students, you don’t need the best shoes or the perfect body. You need hunger. You need heart. And I’ll meet you there.”

Several of his students have already started competing and winning, under his mentorship.

As the dust settles on Poland, Jumah is already preparing for his next challenge: the WADF World Championships in Azerbaijan, where he’ll compete for the Solo Smooth World Title.