On Saturday 20 October, 39 dance students took part in their International Social Ballroom Dance grading, held at Kingswood College, Grahamstown. A range of students included two adults, three PJ Olivier pupils, one from VGHS, nine from Kingswood College, nine from St Andrew’s College and 15 from DSG. The grading was arranged by owner of local dance school, Dance With…, Francois van Eck. Students were examined by Peter Mann from Port Elizabeth. Mann is a member and Treasurer of the South African Dance Teachers Association (SADTA) as well as the Ballroom Instructor for the Rhodes University Ballroom Society.
Dancers were examined at various levels, from Beginner to Level 3 and Van Eck was delighted with all the results. Mann commented that he was very pleased with the quality of dancing produced from the dancers, as they performed dances such as the Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Rumba, Jive, Boogie, Mambo and Cha Cha.
“Ballroom dancing teaches creativity, expression, confidence, discipline, etiquette, adaptability, quick thinking and social skills, as well as being a great form of exercise and stress release,” Van Eck said. “It’s a useful skill and although taught at a social level, receiving an internationally recognised certificate is an additional achievement for students.”
Van Eck teaches Ballroom and Latin American dancing. He teaches at the schools in the afternoons and private individuals, couples or groups in the evenings.
