Ten dancers from five South African studios returned from San Sebastián with 20 Top-5 finishes, eight medals and a host of international scholarships and training opportunities.
South Africa (14 August 2026) – South Africa’s young dance talent has been making some serious moves on the international stage.
Ten dancers from five South African studios travelled to San Sebastián, Spain, for the Global Dance Open 2026 Finals from 14 to 19 July and the small South African contingent certainly did not go unnoticed.
Competing alongside more than 2 000 dancers from 37 countries, Team South Africa walked away with an impressive 20 Top-5 finishes, including two silver and six bronze placings.
Several of the dancers also caught the attention of leading international dance institutions, opening the door to scholarships, training programmes and opportunities that could shape their futures long after the competition ended.
Among the standout opportunities was a three-year full scholarship towards a BA (Hons) in Dance & Performance at BIRD Conservatoire, while another South African dancer was accepted into the Joffrey Ballet School’s full-time Pre-Professional Trainee Programme for Jazz & Contemporary Dance in 2027.
Other opportunities came from institutions including Rambert School, Codarts, Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway.
Five Dance Studios to One Team
What makes the team’s journey even more special is that these dancers did not all come from the same place.
They represented Shablam Dance Academy, Eborall Melville DeWitt, Break-Thru Dance Academy & Co, AH Dance Studios and Gift of Dance.
Back home, they train under different teachers and may even compete against one another.
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They supported one another from the wings, celebrated each other’s achievements and proudly represented the country together.
Team captain Allan Botha said the results were only one part of what made the experience special.
“Watching these dancers represent South Africa on one of the world’s biggest dance stages was incredibly special. While we’re immensely proud of every placement, what stood out most was the way they supported one another throughout the week.”
They Had to Earn Their Ticket to Spain
Getting to the Global Dance Open Finals was an achievement in itself.
The dancers first had to compete at the official South African qualifier at the Roodepoort Theatre from 3 to 6 March.
Because South Africa hosts an official GDO qualifier, dancers cannot simply sign up for the World Finals. They must first compete at home and meet the relevant qualification requirements.
Performances were assessed by a panel of international and South African judges, with technical ability and artistic performance forming part of the adjudication.
So by the time the South African dancers stepped onto the stage in San Sebastián, they had already earned their place there.
Botha believes their success is also a reflection of the talent being developed on home soil.
“Qualifying for the Global Dance Open Finals is already a remarkable achievement because every dancer has to earn their place through their country’s official qualifier. To then compete on an international stage and return home with medals, scholarships and international recognition speaks volumes about the talent we have here in South Africa.”
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