Elite Dance team triumphs in South Africa |11 July 2026

The Elite Dance team making Seychelles proud on the international stage

 • Wins 9 Gold, 6 Pro Gold, Best Group for “27”, Best Choreography, and Best Studio awards

Elite Dance Competition Team shone brightly last weekend at the Elements of Dance Competition in Gauteng, South Africa. Invited to compete at the regional level, the 27‑strong team (ages 11–19) performed 15 choreographies across duet and group categories in three disciplines – Contemporary, Jazz, and Hip Hop – and brought home top medals for every single piece. The result: full eligibility to compete at Nationals, with a chance to qualify for the World Championship.

A week to remember

The team landed in Johannesburg on June 28 for a week of intensive rehearsals and workshops ahead of the competition, held on July 3–4 at Woodlands International College in Gauteng. Beyond the competition itself, the trip gave the dancers a rare opportunity to train under some of South Africa’s top instructors and explore new styles, including Amapiano.

Workshop instructors included:

• Ballet – Kiruna‑Lind Devar: Matriculated from The National School of the Arts in Johannesburg as Top Dance Learner, Kiruna’s professional theatre credits include Mamma Mia! (Sophie), The Phantom of the Opera (Meg Giry, world tour), Saturday Night Fever (Pauline), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (SA/New Zealand), and Evita (SA/Asia). Most recently, she starred as Roxie Hart in Showtime’s Chicago the Musical, earning her sixth Naledi Award nomination and a Cape Town Theatre Award nomination. A singer‑songwriter and voice artist, she is currently completing her BA in Psychology.
• Jazz – Julia Smit: An international choreographer and Co‑Creative Director of Hope School of the Arts in Johannesburg, Julia has choreographed for company shows, live television, international competition teams across Europe and America, and music videos for top South African artists. She tours Europe regularly, teaching and choreographing in over 13 countries, with credits spanning South Africa, the Czech Republic, and Croatia, as well as major stadium performances.
• Contemporary – Veronique Hall: Beginning dance at age five, Veronique trained in Cecchetti and RAD ballet before moving into modern dance. She began teaching at 17 and has spent the past 16 years helping young dancers across South Africa and Europe explore lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop styles. Her signature approach blends the freedom and musicality of contemporary with strong classical ballet roots.
• Amapiano – Hlumela: An actress, dancer, and Amapiano instructor based in Pretoria, Hlumela teaches throughout Pretoria and Johannesburg. Her classes emphasise groove, expression, and cultural roots, helping students connect to the music in a high‑energy, beginner‑friendly environment.

With gratitude

A trip of this scale would not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors: Children Special Fund, SAA, Gran Kaz, SACOS, Earth Development, Vitality Naturopathic Centre, ACM Corporate Services/ACM Consultants, Petit Car Hire, and Hunt Deltel. Elite Dance also expressed gratitude to the students and parents whose tireless fundraising efforts made this opportunity a reality.

Coming home

The team returned to Seychelles in two groups, most on July 5 and the rest on July 7, carrying home far more than gold medals and trophies – new experiences, new technique, and a deeper love for their craft. While many teams might take a well‑earned break after such success, Elite Dance is already back in the studio, preparing for the Wave Dance Competition this weekend.

Contributed