Talented Tafelsig dancer finds his rhythm and flow

Tafelsig dancer Aimsley Fortuin, 23, will represent Mitchell’s Plain, the city, and the country at next month’s Red Bull Dance Your Style world final in Los Angeles. The talented all-styler, known for his fancy footwork and flashy freestyle, booked his ticket to LA as he beat the odds to be crowned national champion at Century City Square, a fortnight ago.

The finals brought together the best of SA talent in a competition where there are no judges; the crowd's decision is final.

 “I want to bring my style, my heart, my feelings, my spirit. I’m here to give it my all,” said Fortuin, after winning the Cape qualifiers at the Waterfront earlier this year.

Now he’s taking his style to the world stage in what is arguably one of the biggest dance competitions of its kind.

A former pupil at Mitchell Heights Primary School and Tafelsig High, the dance bug bit in an unexpected way, he said.

“I walked into a game shop in the area when I was about eight years old and saw a crew dancing in the lounge space. That moment stayed with me. That’s when the magic started; something clicked. I started dancing and I’ve been growing in it ever since,” he said. 

Over the years, he’s tried many styles, but contemporary dance holds a special place in his heart. “I like it because you can tell so many stories through it and express the way you feel,” he said.

Fortuin first entered Dance Your Style in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. but only made it through the first round. This year, however, he came prepared. “There was a lot of competition, but I had a feeling I would make it to the finals. I just wanted to give my all and show the audience what I’m capable of,” he said.

The journey hasn’t been without obstacles, he said, as minor Injuries, transport costs, and community challenges have sometimes slowed him down, but never stopped him.

“It’s the small injuries that you pick up along the way. Transportation can sometimes be an issue when you have to get to a competition and back, and of course, conflict in the community,” he said, referring to gang violence that flares up regularly.

Thankfully, he said, with the support of his family and friends, he has been able to keep pushing forward, believing that street dance is more than just a passing phase; it’s his identity.

“I always make sure my body and mind are ready for the obstacles. The people around me play a huge role in keeping me focused,” he said.

“Being able to express myself through dance really means the world to me. It’s taught me humility and made me realise who I am and what I stand for,” he said.

“What I enjoy the most is to compete and I like watching the competition as a spectator, and then go on stage and do it all over again,” he said. 

This dedication isn’t limited to the stage, said Fortuin, who spends hours training at home or at the nearby Thusong Centre in Tafelsig, balancing his solo journey with group commitments in Devolution Dance Fam and Limitless Movement.

“I consider myself a solo dancer but also enjoy working in groups,” he said, encouraging aspiring dancers in Mitchell’s Plain and beyond to keep believing in themselves and to chase their dreams.