Guiliana Pereira to represent SA at World Freestyle Championships
The nine-year-old started started dancing at nursery school at the age of three and from then she was pretty much hooked as she did well.
Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic School learner Guiliana Pereira (9) has qualified to represent South Africa at the World Freestyle Championships in Blackpool, United Kingdom, from June 23 to 25.
The Brackenhurst resident started dancing at nursery school at the age of three and from then she was pretty much hooked on dancing. She continued with Saturday classes and soon she began to ask questions about competing.
Her mother Vivienne Kloppers said dancing has also been in their family as it was promoted as good-fashioned fun.
“Giuliana just has that extra personality. She is the sassy, wild firecracker. In March 2021 she did her very first freestyle competition. She placed fourth in her very first competition and from there she started to regrade in levels and she fell in love with the glitz and glamour of it all. She has had a variety of placings over the two years she has been competing, but she has also experienced her bad days and fallen out of rounds with no placings.
“Her highlight for the 2022 dance season was placing second for disco at the South African Championships in November,” said Kloppers.
Kloppers said she believes Guiliana is prepared for the competition
“Guiliana has two 30-minute long private lessons a week, with an hour of dance camp on a Thursday and two group dance classes on a Saturday. She practices any homework her trainer has given her every free day, varying from 20 minutes to an hour.
“Giuliana does freestyle, slow dance and disco. She is also interested in Latin, which we are looking to add to her genres. She has a love and passion for them all,” said Kloppers.
Kloppers said Guilana is dedicated to her dancing and she has made dance friends that have become family over the years and believe that is what keeps Guiliana going.
“Even after moments of doubt, they all inspire each other to get back up and keep going. Giuliana is an independent child from the day she was born she always wanted to do things her way. She has a very strong personality but is still very soft-hearted. She loves her family and would do anything for them and she has a huge obsession with reborn dolls,” said Kloppers.
Klopper said Guiliana hopes to make the most of her experience and learn.
“She knows the competition in Blackpool will be intense and difficult but she wants to make the most out of her experience and gain more knowledge from the international trainers as well as other competitors and of course come home with a trophy. Depending on how many dancers are in her age group she will dance rounds of just over a minute each.
“It can go from a first round or a quarter-final and judges select their favourites from each round and recall those dancers again, till they reach a final where they will have a chance to perform a solo spot (dance alone) for the judges.
Kloppers highlighted that they are still trying to raise funds to help Guiliana go to Blackpool.
