Dance group Celerity is set to compete nationally in Johannesburg. From left, are Trevor Matiki, Raine Bence, Hannah Stockton, Amber van der Byl, Stella Saadien-Raad, Layla Saadien-Raad, Chloe Abrahams, Kaely van Reenen, Ane Krogscheepers, and Carmen Willmott.
A dance team from Fish Hoek is heading to a national competition in Johannesburg, but they need your support.
After winning gold at the provincial Talent Africa competition in July, Celerity has earned the chance to represent the Western Cape at the national event later this month.
The competition will run from September 19 to 29, but the team will be competing from Monday September 23 to Tuesday September 24.
The team, which has trained together for four-to-five years, consists of 11 members: 10 dancers and one coach.
They do hip-hop, modern dance, tap, and musical theatre classes under the guidance of director Thania Mandalios, who founded the academy 12 years ago.
“We are incredibly proud of our achievement,” said Ms Mandalios.
“Winning gold at Talent Africa was a huge affirmation of our hard work and dedication. It’s a chance to showcase our talent on a national stage and possibly gain South African Federation colours, which could open doors to international opportunities.”
To compete at the national level, the team needs to cover various expenses, including airfare, shuttle services, accommodation, extra training hours, registration fees, and provincial tracksuits.
The total cost is estimated at R55000, which translates to about R5 000 each.
“We’ve raised just under R10 000 so far,” Ms Mandalios said.
Describing her involvement in the team, Chloe Abrahams, 19, said; "I started dancing when I was young, and now, as a senior dancer, it’s incredible to see our hard work paying off. Any donations to help us get to Johannesburg would mean the world to us.“
Layla Saadien-Raad, 18, said: “The opportunities we’ve had to perform at places like the Artscape Opera House have been incredible. This chance to compete in Johannesburg is a dream come true. Coming from such a tucked away corner of Cape Town it's also such a good feeling being able to show what the valley has to offer.”
If you’d like to support the team, you can attend their show, The Way We Move, at The Masque Theatre from Friday, September 27 to Saturday, September 28, or contribute through their BackaBuddy page.
For more information, contact Thania Mandalios on WhatsApp at 063 695 5876 or call/SMS 079 028 5189.
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