New dance studio promotes healthy lifestyle |19 May 2018

To provide more entertainment and recreational activities for young people, a new dance studio -- the Heartbeat Latin and Ballroom Dance Studio -- has opened its doors with the aim of introducing dancing as a sport.

The physical visual performing art will promote healthy lifestyles in the community thus keeping the youths away from anti-social behaviour.

It was during a show of colourful and vibrant dance performances on Saturday evening at the ICCS that guests present had a taste of what the new dance studio has to offer.

The audience was put in the mood as from the start of the show as the 160 or so entertainers, mostly beginner dancers made up of young kids, juniors, youths, seniors, along with professional Latin & Ballroom dancers in colourful outfits thrilled the crowd with their explosive, energetic contemporary and modern dance moves to the beats of cha-cha, rumba, salsa, waltz, tango and others.

The different types of dances classified under Ballroom & Latin as a performing art and as a sport, were fused together to bring an elegant display of a fully composed performance.

The dancers performed in solo, duo and in groups.

Most of the audience many of whom were members of the studio or had a relative performing that night, said the show was fantastic and that the dances could be introduced as another option for entertainment, alongside our cultural and other forms of dances introduced in the country.

Batswana Tiny Lindiwe Wazime, a professional dancer/instructor with over 15 years of experience in the profession, is the director of the Heartbeat Latin and Ballroom Dance Studio based at Orion Mall.

Alvin Laurence, the chief executive of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), officially launched this new performing art form and principal secretary for Education, Odile Decomarmond, was the guest of honour.

Ms Wazime said the studio will provide opportunities for the youths to not only socialise but also to engage in education programmes on health issues such as HIV/Aids, alcohol and substance abuse among other anti-social behaviour.

It will also give them the opportunity to be professional dance instructors and paid performers, to lead international workshops and to be international adjudicators and also groom them to be part of national teams taking part in overseas competitions.

“Our mission is to unearth, promote and nurture dance sport and artistic talents from all ages with a focus on the young generation and to provide valuable opportunity not only to socialise but to improve health and well-being by removing barriers which is vital for increasing participation of young people,” she said.

Ms Wazime noted that Heartbeat Latin and Ballroom Dance Studio has been working collaboratively and closely with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development.

Mr Laurence said it is always a pleasure to partner with different bodies which are helping to empower the community and wishes the studio success.

Heartbeat Latin and Ballroom Dance Studio has around 220 adults and 350 plus kids as members and apart from instructor Wazime, it has the assistance of two other professional dance instructors from Botswana and South Africa.

Heartbeat Latin & Ballroom Dance Studio can be contacted on 2837228 or 2793830 for more details on enrollment and dance lessons.

The accompanying photographs show highlights of the performances on Saturday evening.

Text and photos by Patrick Joubert