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All the PEDF Winners

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The Port Elizabeth Dance Festival wowed its full-house audience at the Savoy Theatre on Saturday night.

The full programme had guests clapping throughout as they were entertained by the top performances from the eight-day Festival.

From sassy Burlesque dancers, foot stamping hip hop to vibrant Latin-styles and adorable young dancers – the two-hour programme flew by!

The Port Elizabeth Dance Festival, which celebrated its 41st anniversary this year, had a phenomenal response with nearly 3 000 festival viewers, the support from 28 dance studios across the Eastern Cape and with 1515 dancers performing.

“The PE Dance Festival 2022 was an epic success, said Nici Lovemore, chairlady of PEDF.

“It is so edifying to see our vision for a united, diverse festival come into full focus – this, together with our adjudicator Marlin Zoutman’s expert input, helps ensure that our region keeps abreast with National and Global Dance trends and standards.

“PEDF intentionally provides two platforms – one for those who dance purely for joy, and one for those who want to go on to pursue a career in dance.

“Both were highly evident this year, combining to form the glittering gem that is PE Dance Festival”, added Lovemore.

Marlin Zoutman selected fifteen of the festival’s top performances for the gala evening, which included the championship winners performing for each genre. Carol-Ann Kelleher was the Gala’s MC and guests were entertained by multi-talented singer and musician, James van der Merwe.

The Gala’s highlight was the presentation of all the well-earned awards, trophies and all genre age category section winners.

Gabriella Manuela dos Santos, of Natasha Tait Dance Studio won the Junior Modern Champion award and Nicole Hills, of Defying Gravity, earned the Masters Hip Hop Champion award with her high energy performance.

Jean Pierre Cloete, of Leanka Laubscher School of Dance, won the Masters Hip Hop Champion runner-up award.

Polished dancers from Candice Johnstone Dance Academy scooped a number of awards, Ella Adshade won the Junior ballet champion award, Mila Jackson won the Senior Ballet Champion, and Wyatt Ludick won the Senior Ballet Champion for boys.

Aisha James won the Senior Modern Champion award, Caitlin Burton won the Masters Modern Dance Champion Award, Ella Adshade won the Junior Modern Champion runner-up award and Gemma Ferreira won the Senior Modern Champion runner-up award.

Gabriella Snygans, received the Merille Lane Platter as the Most Promising Junior and Olivia Emms received the Jenny Award as the Most Promising Senior as well as the Ballinger Lovemore Trophy for the Best Senior Student Choreography.

The Hermie Award Trophy for the Best Junior or Senior Ballet Group was awarded to Candice Johnstone Dance Academy for their stylish performance in Tarantella Napolentana, this group also won the Best Modern Group trophy.

Zane Schmidt, of Leanka Laubscher School of Dance, received the PEDF Hip Hop Trophy as the Most Promising Hip Hop Dancer as well as the PEDF R1000 Hip Hop bursary.

Elke van der Smit, of Totally Tap, received the Little Cherub Dance Wear Trophy for the Most Promising Tap Dancer as well as the PEDF Tap R1000 bursary.

Likhaya Loyiti, of Susan Zerbst School of Dance, received the PEDF Modern R1000 bursary as well as the PEDF R1000 Ballet bursary.

The National Trophy for the best Junior dancer was awarded to Zeilie de Villiers, of Sidwell Roman School of Ballet and the National Trophy for the best Senior Group was awarded to Dance Dynamics with their energetic Ramba performance.

Portia Appolis Dance Studio’s performance, entitled Drip Drip, won them the best Hip Hop Group Trophy.

Sophie Stewart, of Walmer School of Dance, won the Little Cherub R1500 voucher for the Best Junior.

Susan Zerbst School of Ballet won the Jean Cunningham for the Love of Dance Trophy for her studio’s commitment to dance.

Ilandi Engelbrecht of Defying Gravity won the new Marlene Rubidge Live the Dream Trophy for stage presence, performance and her impressive dedication to dance.

The Ballinger Bursary in memory of Hermione Ballenger was awarded to Ncedakele Meleni of Robyn DÁrcy – The Studio, who won the Best Junior R5000 bursary and Sivu Egerton of Walmer School of Dance who won the best Senior R5000 Bursary.

PEDF has grown in leaps and bounds over the last 4 decades and is now proud to host every dance form including ballet, contemporary / modern, tap, hip-hop, Spanish, Indian, Irish, African, fusion / free movement / ballroom dancing, cheerleading and adaptive dance (freestyle). The wellbeing, development and evolvement of Dance in our region remains the very essence of the Port Elizabeth Dance Festival.

Alladin
Natasha Tait Dance Studio’s high energy group entertained with their performance entitled, Alladin. Photo: Dirk Moggee Photography

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.