Jozi girl wins NY dance bursary
2007-04-02 14:28
Johannesburg - In a heated dance-off, which took place on SABC 1's Jam Alley on Friday, 20 year old Nanah Mthalkane of Midrand won the title of Africa's best female dancer in the Always Ultra Keep Movin' Africa Dance Competition, and now jets off to New York.
Nanah has her sights set on being a dance instructor one day, and by winning this highly contested continent-wide competition, is one step closer to achieving her dream.
She competed against literally hundreds of contenders, from South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria for the most coveted award yet - A 3 month Summer School Scholarship at the Broadway Dance Centre in New York City.
Broadway Dance Centre is considered New York's premier dance studio, where the industry's most sought after teachers and choreographers converge, and where the future's best talent is training.
Gruelling competition
Judges for the final event included sexy kwaito songstress Chomee and hip hop trio Tear Gas. The red-hot final was MC-ed by Jam Alley Presenter Twasa, and club anthem mega-star, DJ Kent was on the decks.
The competition was gruelling, with the girls being expected to perform 3 times, with Individual Free Style, a group choreography piece, and an Individual triple challenge.
"The live studio audience was overjoyed when Nanah was announced the African winner. She was certainly the crowd favourite from the minute she walked on stage.
"The judging panel had all countries, namely Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, represented, and they all judged Nanah as the most deserving," reports Zimbini Madikiza, assistant brand manager of Femcare at P&G.