Join new majorettes team
They will be practising at the Scottburgh Country Club on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
Mid South Coast Crew is a new majorette and performance cheerleading team in Umdoni.
It is an independent development team that will be practising at the Scottburgh Country Club on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
“We started this crew to expose this amazing sport to as many people as possible,” said Liezel Jooste (AKA coach Wiezy).
Liezel and her daughter Calisra (AKA coach Jade) have been involved in majorettes since 2015, but have been active at Highway Majorettes Club in Pinetown since 2018.
Liezel started in majorettes and is vice-chairperson of the club. In 2021, she became a coach and in 2022 joined the tertiary team, performing at two national competitions in 2022 and 2023.
Liezel is also part of the KwaZulu-Natal Majorette and Cheerleading Association (KZNMCA), and does announcements and music operation during regional competitions. Also, as she did dancing most of her childhood, it comes in handy in performance cheerleading.
Calisra started her majorette journey at the age of six, joining a team in Brits. She has competed with Highway Majorette Club since 2018 and became an integral part of the training, skills development and choreographing displays for the team.
She also competed in nationals in 2022 and 2023 with one of her choreographed displays placing fourth in 2022 and another second in 2023.
Having moved to the area in September last year, both Liezel and Calisra missed many aspects of the sport. Also, not much was on offer for women in the area, other than the standard sports at schools and a few sport clubs.
“As we have such a passion for the sport, we decided to start a team in Scottburgh, not only to share it with others, but to provide a different sporting opportunity,” explained Liezel.
Majorettes combine dance and drill movements to make up displays and marches. It also involves a number of props such as flags, pom-poms, batons, maces and rifles in some teams.
Over the years, the sport has evolved to include competitive displays worldwide. Some categories also include basic gymnastic and acrobatic elements, but teams still love to join a parade to show off their skills.
Performance cheerleading is relatively new in South Africa, but popular around the world, and largely associated with sporting events.
Performance cheer, also known as dance, consists of team routines where competitors perform choreographed dances in three different categories – pom, hip hop and jazz – accompanied by high-energy music.
“Majorettes and performance cheerleading can develop self-confidence and co-ordination, as well as encourage motivation, discipline, and teamwork,” added Liezel.
“The camaraderie that exists between the athletes, not only in the team but in the majorette and cheerleading community is priceless, creating many lifelong bonds and friendships.”
“It is a competitive sport and we travel around KZN to compete as well as across South Africa for the annual national championships.”
The team will consist of a variety of female age groups and all are welcome to join.
If you are able to assist with sponsorship, or to find out more email midsouthcoastcrew@gmail.com
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