The love of dance is one of Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Nonhlanhla Mbatha, finance officer: Student Housing, greatest passions.

For Mbatha, along with her dancing partner, Siyathemba Biyela, her graceful dancing moves earned her the title of first position at the UMkhanyakude Championships 2018, at St Lucia in Mtubatuba, recently. She participated in the Ballroom and Latin dance which is Ballroom level 3 Adults and Novice Adults Latin. She was the ballroom and Waltz winner of all four competitions and the Novice Adult Latin winner of three dance competitions out of five. The couple (Biyela and her partner) won first position in both dance competitions.

The dynamic Mbatha has always been involved in sports such as netball but when the opportunity came to learn and participate in ballroom dancing socially, she welcomed the chance and knew immediately that this dancing sport was her new ‘calling’.

“I started dancing at the Pietermaritzburg campus socially and fell in love with it. From there on I dropped netball and took up ballroom dancing, then competed in the SALGA Games and came third in the competition. After five years, I took part in this competition, last year, and I guess it goes by remembering the correct steps and at the same time enjoying the dance sport, which is what I did. Winning was just the best part for me,” she said excitedly.

Mbatha and Biyela continued their winning streak by taking first place at the Ballroom dance Level 3 Adults and the winner of all four competitions at the Novice Adult Latin winner of four dance competitions out of five

She added that winning was good and was a great preparation for the next competition. “We (she and her partner) are looking to improve on the next competition, which is South Africa’s Championship International competition to be held on 15 December,” she said.

Pictured: DUT’s Nonhlanhla Mbatha, finance officer: Student Housing, along with her dancing partner, Siyathemba Biyela and Senzo Ndlovu.

Waheeda Peters