If you love dancing, many are in for a great treat as one of the sports codes at the Durban University of Technology on offer is dancing.
The DUT dance club is open to all students, staff and anyone who loves gliding to the sound of music. The forms of dance include Ballroom dancing and Latin American dancing.
Ballroom dancing is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. In the category of Latin dances, it consists of the cha-cha-cha, rumba, tango and samba, to name but a few. Latin American dances have a flair that hooks both spectators and dancers.
DUT Sports Centre dance coach Mpho Kgatla, is excited to teach new recruits the art of dance and hopes many sign up for the classes in March 2018.
“The first lesson will be to introduce all new recruits to all the genres of dance, basic steps it entails and techniques.
Dance is not just about socializing, it is also a health benefit as it helps with weight loss and stress. If you want to release some tension, dance it away, it really does help,” he said.
Another key dancer at the dance club is DUT’s Nonhlanhla Mbatha, a finance officer at Student Housing. She came first at the Latin American South African Dance Championships which were held at Sun City, Johannesburg, recently. She also took home the trophy and certificate in the category: Standard/ Ballroom Adult Level 2.
Mbatha urges the DUT community to join the Dance Club in March where dancers would be taught the various genres of dance from beginners to aim for championship level.
“Ballroom is a great sport. It’s fun, social and will keep you fit, but most importantly, the aim is to have fun. Dance classes are done twice a week for beginners and for us, amateurs, it is up to five days a week, depending on the availability of people,” she added.
To join, a membership fee for the year is for: non-students – R220. R150 for ex-students and R100-DUT students.
Her main gripe is the issue of funding, as there is a need to obtain the right coach, costumes, shoes and accessories, as well as a budget for going to and from competitions if out of the KwaZulu-Natal province.
The dance club members are available to perform at a price at fundraising events at DUT or for corporate events. If there are any departments, individual persons willing to contribute any financial help or are able to sponsor the right clothing, infrastructure for dance classes and competitions, they are urged to contact Mbatha on 031 373 2491 or email: nonhlanhlam5@dut.ac.za.
For more information, contact: Mpho on 061-0844320.
Pictured: DUT’s Nonhlanhla Mbatha, finance officer: Student Housing, along with her DUTs dance coach, Mpho Kgatla.
