Promoting well-being through Latin and Ballroom dancing |11 May 2018

Tomorrow, Heartbeat Latin and Ballroom Dance Studio will showcase the future of Ballroom & Latin dancing in Seychelles with a dance show at the International Conference Centre Seychelles (ICCS).

The evening will centre on various Latin and Ballroom dance performances that are part of the studio’s programmes and services, with a touch of exotic moves and dance exercises to showcase their fitness programmes.

Heartbeat Latin and Ballroom Dance Studio aims to introduce Dance Sport (Ballroom and Latin Dance) in Seychelles as a sport and visual performing art by achieving their Sport / Visual Performing Art Code, as follows:

• Unearth, promote and nature Dance Sport as well as artistic talent across all ages with a focus on the younger generation.
• Avail access and equity issues to increase opportunities for young people.
• Present valuable opportunities, not only to socialise, but to improve health and well-being by removing barriers for increasing the participation of young people.

Through Ballroom and Latin dancing, the studio also aims to bring about the following opportunities for children:

• National representation (national team) at overseas competitions.
• To be professional dance instructors and paid performers.
• International workshop facilitators and international adjudicators.

The dance show this weekend will introduce different types of dances classified under Ballroom & Latin as a performing art and as a sport, fused together to bring an elegant display of a fully composed performance that has never been seen before in Seychelles.

Performances will include a kids’ show which will display team work, and also a couple of performances displaying the proper grooming of young gentlemen and ladies for a better tomorrow.

Those who will be taking part in the show are beginner Latin & Ballroom dance kids who enrol at the studio from age 6 – 10 years, Junior & Youth beginner dancers, as well as the local public school dance club programme performers.

It will also include adult and senior dancers (21 – 75 years) and professional Latin & Ballroom dancers. This is to demonstrate all levels of performances, from beginner dances to professional displays, with a touch of contemporary and dance exercise performances by the adult, senior and professional dancers.

The show is open to everyone, from kids to adults and seniors. According to the organisers, it is a perfect show for a family outing and/or a couple’s date. It is also open to other stakeholders (e.g. Arts & culture, department of sport, child wellbeing, health & fitness organisations and all media fraternities).

The organising team behind the show consists of:

• Tiny Lindiwe Wazime, managing director and Latin & Ballroom professional dancer/instructor, with over 15 years of experience in the profession.
• Joseph Mankuroane, professional Latin & Ballroom dancer, instructor and choreographer, with more than 10 years of experience in the profession.
• David Moatlhodi, Master of choreography and professional dance choreographer/ instructor, with 20 years of dance experience in choreography, performance and production.

The team explains that the event will serve as the official opening event of the newly opened Heartbeat Latin and Ballroom Dance Studio. It will allow the audience to learn more about the studio, in terms of the programmes and services that they offer. The organisers find the show especially fitting at a time when Latin & Ballroom dance is only just being introduced and established in Seychelles.

The studio’s local public school dance club programme, which will be displayed on the evening, is targeted to grooming junior/young dancers/athletes in schools, in collaboration with the department of education and the arts department which aim to achieve the following as part of their mandate:

• Disseminate information on HIV/Aids as well as alcohol/substance abuse issues and to give a life purpose to young people, as a way of removing them off the streets through Dance Sport and setting up of rehabilitation programs for those already affected.
• Engage the youth in the process of expanding their entertainment/recreation activities, as well as decision-making processes, to fully unleash their potential for self-actualisation.
• Promote physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle for our community through Latin and Ballroom dancing.

For those interested, tickets can be purchased at the studio, Orion Mall, 2nd Floor, Shop 212. Tickets are R75 for children from 6 years old and free for those under 6 years.

• Doors open at 6pm and the show will take place from 7pm to 10pm.