South Africa has another world champion to celebrate, after Hanna took the stage and gave it her all in Las Vegas!
Ballito, South Africa (03 August 2026) – South Africa’s world dance champions are shining! Twelve-year-old Hanna van den Barselaar-Smith, a learner at Ashton International College Ballito, has returned from the 2026 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Las Vegas with the title of Overall Junior Dance Champion of the World.
The international competition brought together talented performers from 54 countries, competing across acting, dancing, instrumental, vocal and modelling disciplines.
Hanna impressed the judges from the get-go. During the preliminary rounds, she earned gold medals for Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical and Open dance, along with a silver medal for Contemporary. Her performances also saw her named Overall Junior Champion in both Ballet and Open.
Only the highest-scoring dancers moved on to the semi-finals, where Hanna chose to perform her ballet routine. That performance secured her a place among the Top 4 Junior Dance Soloists and earned her a spot in the final showcase, where she competed for the overall title.
Taking to the famous Las Vegas stage, Hanna delivered one final performance that would see her crowned Overall Junior Dance Champion of the World 2026!
“What an exceptional journey, remarkable display of talent and truly unforgettable achievement! Hanna’s dedication, passion, discipline and extraordinary talent have taken her to the world stage – and she has returned home a WORLD CHAMPION!” shared Hanna’s school in pride.
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