From dance floor to Portugal in the green and gold

Danie van der Lith|Published 2 years ago

Seen here wearing their Protea Colours with pride are (back, from left): Lynette le Roux (president SASAFF), Deowin Anthonie, Jade-Lynn Koopman, Jayden Fredericks, Liam Abrahams (dancer and coach), Kirsty Andrews, Nikita van Staden, and Tamia Rosier. Front (from left): Tatum Bocks, Carla Whitten, Farrell Moses (president Northern Cape Sports Confederation), Zoe Abrahams, Hannah Abrahams, Nazneen Alexander, and Noleen Abrahams (coach and president NCSAFF). Picture: Danie van der Lith

It’s not every day that you get to achieve something that allows you to represent your nation and proudly raise its flag on an international stage.

However, this is precisely what happened for a 12-strong local Kimberley Hip Hop dance group that will travel with the South African Sport Aerobic, Fitness Federation (Sasaff), and Hip Hop Federation delegation to the Hip Hop Unite World Championships, which will take place in Obidos, Portugal from October 27 to 29 where these local dancers will feature as South Africa's representatives.

This Mega Crew that calls themselves ‘Culture’ performs at the Noleen Andrews School of Dance, a dance studio in the Diamond City of Kimberley. The crew, which is led by coaches Liam and Noleen Abrahams, won the South African Sport Aerobic, Fitness, and Hip Hop Championships, which took place in Cape Town from June 24-26, and in doing so qualified for this auspicious international competition.

During the handing over of their colours ceremony at the Ambassadors Lodge on Wednesday night, you could see the pride and excitement in the eyes of the dancers as they were dressed in their green and gold South African tracksuits.

One of the coaches, Noleen, was also beaming with pride as 12 of her dancing school’s Hip Hop dancers made it this far. The look on her face spoke volumes for her without her having to say a word.

Seen from left are: Farrell Moses (president Northern Cape Sports Confederation), Noleen Abrahams (coach and president NCSAFF) and Lynette le Roux (president SASAFF). Picture: Danie van der Lith

The dancers' parents, who were present, were also beaming with pride as they knew that their children had just received their South African colours and would soon be representing their nation.

The group of dancers were referred to as “elite athletes” by Farrell Moses, president of the Northern Cape Sports Confederation, during his speech. “No matter what sport you play, from rugby to dancing, when you don the green and gold, you are a Protea, an ambassador of this nation,” Moses said, and added, “and I am happy to report that the Northern Cape now has 12 more athletes proudly donning the springbok colours.

“You put in a lot of effort, you did your part, and now you're reaping the benefits,” he told the group.