Young Kimberley dancer brings home three international gold medals

NINE-year-old dancer Mia Boughan from Kimberley has made her province and country proud after she clinched three gold medals across different dance categories during the prestigious “Show Your Talent” competition held in New York, USA.

The competition, which took place on June 29, culminated in a grand gala event and prize-giving on June 30.

Mia’s outstanding performance surpassed all her expectations. The Grade 4 learner from Staats Primary School had initially simply regarded the opportunity to compete on the international stage as “a dream come true”.

In the 9-11 age category, Mia secured first place in Hip Hop dance, Jazz dance and Open dance. Her talent extended beyond the dance floor as she also claimed the top spot in all the photogenic categories - Beauty, Catalogue, Commercial, Editorial, Fitness, and Headshot.

Mia enthusiastically described the competition as a “fun and exciting” experience after she skilfully captivated the judges, leaving them eating out of the palm of her hand.

From the exhilarating journey to New York to forming new friendships, and ultimately showcasing her passion for dancing, every moment felt fulfilling, the young Kimberlite said.

Mia’s parents meanwhile expressed gratitude to the Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture for their generous sponsorships, which covered part of the expenses. The family covered the remaining costs themselves.

Accompanied by her mom, Rene Boughan, dad Jeffrey, sister Mishka, baby brother Mason, and grandparents Sandra and Nevel Barnes, Mia travelled to New York alongside her coach, Theane Willemse.

Mia’s older sister, Mishka, was crowned Miss Pre-Teen Model World 2024 in April of this year.

The nine-year-old beamed with joy as she described her dream come true. “I feel incredibly blessed and grateful for this opportunity,” she shared. “During our two-week stay, we also enjoyed two days at Disney World in Orlando.

“My favourite performance was the Hip Hop dance - it’s set to the song ‘Lip Gloss’ and is both fun and fast-paced. Next, I did an Open dance, which was also fun because I spiced it up with South African moves and a touch of amapiano at the end.

“The last performance was Jazz, which was also fast but a bit slower than Hip Hop,” she explained. Her excitement was palpable.

She expressed no regrets about the intense year-long practice she dedicated to her dances. “My coach and I crafted each dance from scratch,” she explained. “There was no need to change any of my dance moves at any stage.”

Expanding on her experience, she expressed surprise at the sheer scale of the competition.

“There were many important scouts and people who have shaped famous superstars,” she noted. “The many talents on display were also amazing to see.”

With boundless enthusiasm and commitment, the sky is the limit for the young dancer and she plans to participate in more competitions.

“I will definitely enter more dance competitions and practise to improve my dance skills,” she concluded.