----

The Freestyle Dance community and authorities in South Africa were so very proud to be invited last month by the IDO (International Dance Organization) to send SA representatives to the 2000 Disco/Freestyle World Championship to be held in Helsinki, Finland, on 19 May.

The 3 categories concerned are : adult 16/over solo ladies, adult 16/over solo men and showdance couples.

This is the very first World Championship that SA dancers are participating in - AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF THE RECOGNITION RECEIVED BY THE IDO - proving that all the hard work over the last 20 years in establishing a Freestyle Dance competitive, professional and training structure has finally paid off.

Another compliment for South African Freestyle Dance is the allocation by the IDO to South Africa of the 2001 Freestyle World Championship, scheduled for 29 April 2001, and to be staged at Sun City.

The late notice of SA's participation in this year's "World's" caused a flurry of activity as the SADTA had just a few weeks to organize a final selection process.

South African championships have 2 adult solo categories viz, youth 16-18 years and adult 19/over.
while the IDO caters for only one adult category viz. adult 16 years and over.

Therefore, a final selection heat had to be organized where the top South African youth and adult dancers needed to compete against each other in one "IDO" final in order to determine the top overall 1999/2000 delegates.

The finalists selected from 1999 were (with their points earned from their best 3 results out of the 5 major Freestyle Championships) :

YOUTH 16-18 YEARS LADIES SOLO  ADULT 19/0VER LADIES SOLO

• M Parrereinha, 28                       A Goncalces, 30
• S Viana, 27                                S Kotze, 25
• H Hammond, 24                        S Marques, 24
• S van Zyl, 17                              C Cawood, 15
• L Liebmann, 15                          P Lawrence, 15
• Saunders, 11                             M Pienaar, 14

• G Beveridge, 30                       H Viana, 30
• M Moroder, 28                         R Hammond, 26
• R Hewitt, 20                              D Moroder, 23
• N Dawson, 20                           S Saunders, 18
• G Lekgehto, 16                        T Riviere, 17
•                                                W Walbrugh, 13

• R Vorster & M Parrerienha, 30
• H Viana & A Goncalves, 23
• G Beveridge & T Fourie, 22
• R Hewitt & C Ludick, 18

Flowers and balloons were everywhere, a lovely 3 course meal was served and the formally dressed audience was certainly vocal in their support of these dancers!

The adjudication panel was : Anne Lingard (UK), Lilian Dooley, Pam Smith, Genetia King and Mark Dooley.

The SADTA Freestyle Faculty certainly spoilt the competitors with some really special moments  -  but, after all, they are South Africa's first ever "Freestyle World Trial" finalists, so they deserved it!

1. All the finalists were specially invited by the SADTA to participate in this final heat, with no entry fee required and were made to feel very welcome by being fully catered for at their own tables in the main hall.
2. Each finalist was introduced singly onto the floor and then presented with a framed and signed congratulatory certificate of participation and flowers.
3. A commemorative photograph was taken of each contestant with Gloria Fish, the South African IDO representative.

SOUTH AFRICA'S OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES TO THE 2000 IDO DISCO/FREESTYLE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:
ADULT SOLO LADIES :                Michelle Parrereinha, Samantha Kotze, Alcione Goncalves
ADULT SOLO MEN :                   Henry Viana, Graham Beveridge, Nicholas Dawson
ADULT SHOWDANCE COUPLES : Riaan Vorster and Michelle Parrereinha  Henry Viana and
                                              Alcione Goncalves Graham Beveridge and Tanya Fourie

The SADTA congratulates these dancers on their selection and is sure that the whole of South Africa wishes these dancers all the very, very best in their first ever DISCO/FREESTYLE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

The 2001 Disco/Freestyle World Trial selection process commences with the 1st heat being held on Saturday 25 March at the Easter Freestyle Championship in Krugersdorp.

Further qulaifying trials :
The Battle Of The Giants.....................  Sun City.........   5 May
Welkom Championship......................  Welkom.........  3 June
KwaZulu-Natal Championship.............  Illovo Beach...  4-6 August
Pretoria Festival.................................  Pretoria..........  26 August
SA National Championship.................  Germiston......  18 November

These heats will be conducted under IDO rules and are open to professional as well as amateur dancers in the adult 16 years and over age group.

Contact SADTA Gauteng Branch : Freestyle Faculty for further details tel 011-422-4545 mornings.

----
Battle Of The Giants 2000
2nd Qualifying Round
Pierre Cardin Timepieces Freestyle Solo  Achiever Competition
Report by Pam Smith : co-ordinator of The 2000 Battle Of The Giants

EVENT: SUPREME DANCER OF THE YEAR FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIP
1-2 OCTOBER 1999

A tremendous sense of excitement preceded the staging of this championship, another highlight in the Freestyle dancers' competitive season.

What everyone was anticipating was the start of the annual Supreme Dancer Of The Year Championship held in the Germiston Civic Centre, with an entry of over 500 Freestyle competitors - this year with a truly international flavour on offer from the large contingency of British Freestyle dancers who travelled way down south to compete against South Africa's best.

This is a true measure of the high regard South Africa's Freestyle dancers enjoy with the international Freestyle Dance community - a fine compliment from the British dancers who are generally considered tops in the world.

Organizer Diana Moore proved up to the task in managing this enormously popular Freestyle Dance
Championship which attracts entries from all over the country and is one of the 5 "majors" of the Freestyle Dance competitive season.

Highlights of the competition were:

• the approximately 150 visitors from the United Kingdom, some of whom were paying a return visit to our country
• a first-ever invitational Freestyle International Team match staged between South Africa and the United Kingdom, which elicited much enthusiasm and proud support from everyone present
• the 2nd qualifying round of the Pierre Cardin Timepieces Solo Achiever contest
• the 10 Freestyle Formation Teams - the largest number of competing formation teams to date in this country
• the international panel of adjudicators comprising David Jones, Anna Jones, Marine Glasby, Steve Noall, Daniel Heald, all from the UK South African adjudicators - Kedibotse Mongane, Craig Riviere, Neville Matjie, Meghan Sim, Genetia King, Marlene Vigliotti, Sheila Blignaut

This competition featured Beginner, Rising Star and Championship sections in the following styles :
Freestyle, Rock 'n Roll, Slowdance, Hustle and the ever-popular Hip-Hop.

Outstanding commemorative trophies were displayed and presented for all sections and grateful thanks are extended to some very generous sponsors for their prize donations. These include Pierre Cardin Timepieces, MTN, BMG Recording Company, Baker Street Snacks, Shades of Ngwenya, Cajees Cycle Corner, CJ Music Promotions International and Nestle Chocolates.

The international team match pitted the best of South Africa's Freestyle dancers against the best of Britain in all age groups from under 9's to adult - with the team from the UK proving to be the eventual winners.

This team match was presented with all the pomp and ceremony of a true sports test match with South African and British flags on display during the playing of both national anthems and the "march-on" - always a proud moment!

Another event which created much enthusiasm and huge interest was the 2nd qualifying round of the Pierre Cardin Timepieces Solo Achiever competition (the Overall Champion Of Champions which features only at the 5 "majors" in the season). The 4 Achiever heats are danced at the KwaZulu-Natal, Dancer Of The Year, South African National, TEA in April and then The Battle Of The Giants taking place at Sun City, 5-8 May 2000.

The quarter final featured all the finalists of the over 16 years solo sections, with a final of 7 dancers eventually being selected, including 2 young ladies from the UK.

These 7 dancers competed over 2 disciplines in the final - commencing with an improvised solo dance to music first heard only on the night - and then dancing a normal solo final.

This competition employs a points system whereby the leader on the points table after each Champion Of Champions qualifying round wins the main prize of a complimentary all-inclusive package to the Grand Finals at Sun City next year, valued at R1400-00 and sponsored by Pierre Cardin Timepieces.

No dancer may receive this prize twice.

The winner of the Pierre Cardin Timepieces competition package was Michelle Parreirinha who was placed 3rd in the Champion Of Champions section. This, coupled with Michelle's points earned at the KwaZulu-Natal Championship, earned her the magnificient prize.

The winner of the Champion Of Champions final was once again Henry Viana, who now heads the points table of the Achiever competition after 2 qualifying rounds.

Diana deserves to be congratulated on producing another exciting event, with the following officials performing stirling work over the entire weekend : compere - Daniel Swanepoel : DJ - Paulo : scrutineers - Francois Triegaardt and Jim Warren : chairman - David Jones : status secretary - Bev Ross.

The Grand Finals of this year-long competition was staged during THE BATTLE OF THE GIANTS at
Sun City in April 1999.

Qualifying heats had been danced at the KwaZulu-Natal, Dancer Of The Year, South African National
and Easter Championships.

13 dancers had qualified for the semi finals and 7 were eventually selected for the Grand Final.

Alcione Goncalves won the following prizes :

1. an air ticket to Britain sponsored by VIRGIN ATLANTIC
2. a Pierre Cardin Timepiece sponsored by PCT
3. a commemorative Pierre Cardin trophy  sponsored by PCT
4. a cell-phone package sponsored by MTN
5. a magnificent sand-blasted glass trophy sponsored by Mark Montemerlo

----
Battle Of The Giants 2000
1st Qualifying Round
Pierre Cardin Timepieces Freestyle Achiever Competition
Report by Pam Smith : co-ordinator of The 2000 Battle Of The Giants

Event: KwaZulu-Natal Open Freestyle Championship 6-9 August 1999

Hundreds of Freestyle Dance competitors and their families and supporters gathered once again in Illovo Beach on the South Coast for the Annual KwaZulu-Natal Open Freestyle Championship which again proved to remain an absolute highlight of the Freestyle Dancers' competition programme.

Organised by Beryl Cilliers to coincide with the Women's Day long weekend, the very full programme of 220 dance sections was expertly managed with careful efficiency from the registration on Friday night through to the grand finals on Sunday night.

The entire competition was thoroughly enjoyed by Freestyle Dance enthusiasts from all over South Africa -with visitors from Gauteng, Free State, Eastern Cape, North West and of course, KwaZulu-Natal.

The highlight of the weekend was the staging of the first qualifying round of the Pierre Cardin Timepieces Freestyle Achiever Of The Year Competition, which will present it's Grand Final during The Battle Of The Giants event being held at Sun City 5-8 May 2000.

All solo dancers aged 16 years and over had danced for 2 days to qualify for the quarter final of this particular Achiever competition and 13 dancers were eventually selected to compete in the semi-final during the Gala Evening on the Saturday night.

With no room to move even a mouse after the dinner, the "Solo Achiever Battle" began - and the house was almost brought down by the enthusiasm of the Freestyle Dance fans, all supporting their favourite dancer

The top six dancers selected then competed over 2 disciplines in the final - first dancing an improvised solo spot item to music played only once for them - and then dancing a normal solo final.

After the marks had been calculated, the eventual winner was announced to thunderous applause: HENRY VIANA, who won both the improvisation and dance sections of this extremely tight final.

Henry won a complimentary all-inclusive package to the Grand Finals of The Battle Of The Giants 2000 to, be held at Sun City 5-8 May next year, valued at R1400-00 and sponsored by Pierre Cardin Timepieces - and all finalists were awarded special commemorative Pierre Cardin Timepieces trophies for their very fine efforts.

This final proved a fitting finale to a tremendous championship where dancers competed in all categories
including Open Freestyle, Medal sections, Rock 'n Roll, Slowdance and Hustle, from absolute beginner grades to the top championship grades.

Beryl organised a tip-top competition control group comprising the Scrutiny 3 team of Francois Triegaardt and Jim Warren, status secretary Bev Ross, DJs Musi and Robyn, compere Pam Smith, marshalls including Maria Fernandes, Vicky Hadland, Erica Smith, Nick and Avron Cilliers and Michelle Poxon and of course, a first class adludication panel consisting of highly qualified international and South African adjudicators :
David and Anna Jones from the UK and Meghan Sim, Michelle Poxon, Erica Smith, Amber Baty, Sheila Blignaut, Neville Matjie.

This was the first year for this annual championship to be held at the world-famous Sun City Resort, after having been very successfully staged in Mmabatho, North West for the previous 9 years, organized by Pam Smith and Diana Moore with the main sponsors, Sun International.

This is one of South Africa's premiere competitions, being the only one to offer ALL Freestyle disciplines in a single competition - and also including Latin and Ballroom Dance - truly All Styles.

From early beginnings where 2 afternoons only were required, the event had grown to the point where 4 days were now necessary to complete same, and at the sponsor's request, was moved to the Sun City Superbowl. This proved to be a successful move, with the Gala Dinner for the Grand Finals selling out well in advance, and the dancers and supporters of all our styles of dance creating a real "buzz" throughout the festival.

What a venue for Freestyle dancers who had never before danced there and what a company to work with!
Very special thanks are extended to all at Sun International and Sun City for supporting our dance styles!

Different affordable accommodation packages were available from Sun City, including an all-inclusive one which included all meals - a bonus for the working committee after each hectic session!

A record entry was received from 500 competitors from Gauteng, Free State, North West, Border and KwaZulu Natal aged from under 3 years to masters, entering into over 120 sections on offer.

Freestyle dancers are so versatile that some even managed to compete in up to 11 different sections over the weekend and it proved a huge task programming everyone into the 4-day weekend.

Even though we were nervous about the "first time scenario" this year, with the sterling co-operation of members of the hard-working committee and the dancers concerned, the programme was completed by 11:00pm at the end of the stunning gala evening on the Sunday night.

Outstanding commemorative trophies were displayed and presented for all sections and we wish to extend grateful thanks to our very generous sponsors who donated some incredible prizes. These include Pierre Cardin Timepieces, MTN, Virgin Atlantic, Engen and others.

Representatives from these companies were especially invited to present their prizes at the Gala Grand Finals - and all reported that they really enjoyed the show!

A panel of well known and highly qualified adjudicators in all the styles was engaged from all areas i.e.

Free State : Marlene Vigliotti
Gauteng : Pam Smith, Diana Moore, Amber Baty, Erica Smith,  Craig Riviere, Genetia King, Nikki Truter
KwaZulu Natal : Beryl Cilliers, Neville Matjie, Lenore Goss North West : Kedibotse Mongane

The absolutely professional and highly committed control team consisting of the programme co-ordinator, compere, status secretary, DJ, scrutineers, chairman of adjudicators and marshalls, contributed hugely to the successful running of events, keeping the competition timetable perfectly on track and it is safe to say that the competition could not have run as smoothly as it did without their input!
A magnificent job was executed by the compere for the entire festival, Lionel Smith, whose voice managed to hold out to the end!

The scrutineering team of Francois Triegaardt, Jim Warren, Roy Bennett and Jimmy Johnson carried out their duties with 100% accuracy even though this was their first ever Freestyle competition.

Mrs Bev Ross, the Freestyle status secretary certainly had her weekend cut out keeping track of promotional points, rules and regulations, etc.

DJ Mark Dio, assisted by Erica Smith, played non-stop for the entire period producing an excellent choice of music throughout, over all the varying styles of dance performed.

Competitions were held in all disciplines of freestyle, latin and ballroom dance with standards varying from absolute first-time beginners, through all medal grades and into world-class championship grade and professionals.

Friday began at 1:00pm with a practice session, then saw the impressive "warm-up" of almost 500 dancers on the  Superbowl floor conducted by Marc Montemerlo, followed by the staging of all non-status Freestyle categories which included medal grades, trios, hustle and the very popular hip hop sections.

Saturday morning began with the Official Opening Ceremony, a moving and emotional parade of all competitors from all studios displaying banners and flags, which always creates a huge sense of pride in both dancers and spectators alike - certainly always an eagerly awaited highlight of the festival.

Competitions in all styles then took place until approximately 8:00pm, followed by dinner in the Royal Ballroom

Sunday morning began at 9:00am with a latin and ballroom session followed by freestyle, hustle, slowdance and rock 'n roll sections, with the Freestyle Formation Team section providing a highlight.
Tension started building up during the afternoon qualifying rounds of the Achiever Solo Freestyle Competition, which had been sponsored by Pierre Cardin Timepieces over the previous 9 months with qualifying heats having been staged at all the Freestyle "majors". 5 dancers had already qualified for the semi finals, which included the defending champion, and the last qualifying heat was staged in the Superbowl to determine the remaining contestants for the semi final to be held Sunday evening.

The Gala Grand Finals began Sunday evening with a formal dinner in the Superbowl at 6:00pm followed by an incredibly exciting evening of dance which began at 8:00pm.

Highly entertaining was the Freestyle Adult Couples section where couples perform cabaret items in full costume, and the Adult Latin Championship final.

A first-ever Freestyle Inter-Provincial Team match was staged amid wild enthusiasm and support from everyone present, especially when our 2 invited professional couples competed in a "Battle Of The Professionals" with their points from each dance being added to the totals of selected provinces!

The Professional "Battle" took the form of a challenge between the Ballroom dances of John and Cheryl Tudhope and the Latin dances of Neville Matjie and Lenore Goss - another "first" for South Africa!

These two professional couples certainly entered into the spirit of this mainly Freestyle event and we thank them for their support - it was a real pleasure having them with us!

Then it was the turn of the Solo Freestyle semi finalists to dance for a place in the Grand Final of The Pierre Cardin Timepieces Achiever Of The Year Competition - what excitement!

This Grand Final comprises 2 elements - improvisation to music never heard before and a championship freestyle dance final.

The eventual winner was adjudged to be Alcione Goncalves who won a Pierre Cardin Timepiece, an air ticket to England sponsored by Virgin Atlantic, an MTN cell phone, a magnificient glass floating trophy sponsored by Marc Montemerlo and with all other finalists, special commemorative PCT trophies.

A popular winner and a fitting climax to a very exciting and tiring dance festival - with everyone looking exhausted and jaded the following morning - with the good news that the Sun City management has already booked the Superbowl for another such festival for Y2K!

The first qualifying heat for 2000 takes place 7-8 August 1999 in Illovo Beach, South Coast, KwaZulu Natal... see you all in the Superbowl from 5th - 8th May 2000 for another "GRAND FINAL!"