Death of dance master
Friends and family bid farewell to Graham Malcom Smith, who died on 27 March.
Graham was born in 1943 and grew up in Durban.
At the age of 18 he discovered a love for ballroom and Latin American dancing.
His first job was with Standard Bank. From there he moved to what was called Allied Builders Society. He married and had two children, Vanessa and Warren.
He moved to Toti and worked his way up to be manager of Amanzimtoti Allied, which became Absa Bank.
He then joined Pam Golding Properties, where he worked for 15 years.
“Graham never had any enemies and was held in very high regard by all his colleagues,” said his partner, Veronica.
He never stopped dancing and he and his different partners went through the ranks and different levels, but his finale before retiring from competitive dancing was becoming the KZN Latin American champion and runner-up in the SA ballroom and Latin championship.
When he retired from competitive dancing, he opened his own dancing studio and became involved with the administration of dancing. He became the chairman of a professional body called the RDTA and introduced one of Durban’s most prestigious ballroom and Latin competitions, the annual Prix D ‘Elegance.
“During his 30 years of having his own studio, he trained many dancers and had quite a few championship couples under his belt,” said Veronica. “His son Warren and stepdaughter, Claire were lucky enough to be among them. After giving up competitive teaching, he began doing social teaching.”
Graham is survived by his partner, Veronica, son, Warren, daughter, Vanessa, three step-daughters, Claire, Hayley-Jayne and Sherri-Leigh and grandchildren Alyssa, Riley, Liam and Connor.
