TAKING DANCE SPORT TO SCHOOLS

This week we chat to Swaziland Dance Sport Association PRO Sammy Msibi and here what he had to say.

Times: How many members do you have?
SM: The association’s membership consists of Dance Clubs and Schools. We have a total number 15 active member clubs and this has shown a little growth from the previous two years where we saw eight active teams. The 15 teams come from three regions of Swaziland Lubombo, Hhohho and Manzini; and this means that we still have to ensure that we get the Shiselweni region to take part in this beautiful game.
Times: Name three of your association’s biggest achievements last year?

SM: 2016 was not the best of years. We had much administration challenges that have led to us not being able to host our annual international challenge and also to send our dancers outside Swaziland. But with that said, the development team has done a tremendous job.

We have upgraded a number of our junior dancers from lower levels to much higher levels successfully. In the yesteryears we saw younger dancers (below 12 years) participating in Level One and Two but in 2016 we felt it was time  to bring also the young stars at the big competitions; and we have promoted most of them to Level 4 which is the beginning of elite dancing. We saw them compete and they are indeed hungry for international silverware where at their new level. The growth in our membership is one thing that we value the most.

The Previous year we welcomed two new dance teams in Ezulwini (Bailamos Studios) and in Mbabane (Sifundzani). These teams have recruited many dancers who have participated in the competitions we had the past year and Bailamos has been involved in also marketing the social aspect of dance sport.
Times:  What was the biggest let-down in 2016 and how are you planning to make up for it?

SM: We could not host our biggest annual event where we host countries from southern Africa. This had been caused by lack of financial resources to prepare for such events. This was a big blow to our dancers and our southern African counterparts.
However we have learnt as a team from this experience and we have already begun our preparations for this competition to take place in September 2017. We have begun talks with potential sponsor and our former sponsors and we are positive that something great will come out from these talks.

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