An inspiring Cape Flats dancing duo has been selected to dance for the nation on the world stage. With each dance floor they meet, they’re showing young people from backgrounds like theirs that dreams aren’t defined by your street address.
Cape Flats, South Africa (03 July, 2023) — A young dancing duo headed for the global stage is in it for more than the applause. For Riana Jacobs and Morgan Achmat from the Cape Flats, their journey as a champion ballroom and Latin dancing pair means that hope follows them onto every stage; that someone watching might be a young person who chooses to follow their wildest dreams and not just the path that circumstances lead to for so many in these areas.
Hailing from Bishop Lavis and Manenberg, two areas on the Cape Flats known for gangsterism culture, the dancing duo stepped outside of where negative headlines and statistics premise their future.
The couple who have been gracing stages together for years wowed the country last year by being victorious at the 2022 South African Championships and were selected to represent South Africa in Germany for the WDSF World Championships Ten Dance under 21, set to take place in December.
For them, the representation on the global stage is more than simply representing South Africa. Their communities’ wishes aren’t just that they ‘break a leg’, but that they break stigmas. Both dancer share that their dedication goes beyond Latin or ballroom dancing skills, but to become role models for the generations to be.
The two are currently on a fundraising mission to secure their funding to Germany for the Championships on 9 December 2023 and are hosting events as well as a BackaBuddy campaign to get to the global stage. They are seeking community support for the massive opportunity, and you can find out more about being part of their success story here.
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