“No words can describe how proud I am because when I opened the studio’s door years ago, this was the vision I started with – to bring that international air to Seychelles as I had been acquainted with so much potential.”
Tiny Wazime, founder and owner of the Heartbeat Latin and Ballroom Studio, made this remark following Seychelles’ first ever WADF backed competition – Festival LaDans – which was held on August 27, 2022 at the Anse Royale community centre.
“The WADF (World Artistic Dance Federation) is the ideal arena for dancers because it gives every dancer an equal chance; a girl who has not found a boy to dance with to be part of a dance duo or team and also an apprentice dancer to find his/her place in the dancing arena. WADF also incorporates culture as a significant artistic dance element,” Mrs Wazime further stated.
The WADF is a non-profit, non-political democratic worldwide dance-organisation having more than 100 years of experience in the Art of dance providing a platform for non-elite dancers. Earlier this year in June, 50 Seychellois boys and girls underwent and passed a WADF medal test examination assessing their basic (bronze level) dancing artistry.
The President of the WADF, Sir Nils Hakan Carlzon, was in Seychelles particularly for this examination. Eleven Seychellois women also attended a seminar conducted by Sir Nils bringing them into the artistic dance judging artistry. These newly acquired certificates and adjudicating skills would be one of Seychelles’ most significant breakthroughs into the realm of World Artistic Dance.
The Festival LaDans competition lasted a day and incorporated Artistic One dance And Two Dances in Waltz, Bachata, Salsa, Samba, Jive, Quickstep, Cha Cha Cha and Rumba. Age Groups from: Mini Kids (4-6yr), Tiny Tots (7-9yr), Juveniles (10-12yr), Juniors (13-15yr) & Adults (25 & above). [Not all participants are captured in the pictures].
Seychelles will host the All African Artistic Dance Championships in 2023 at Savoy. An event which will attract a magnitude of dancers from all over the African continent. It is hoped that this event will showcase the world’s best artistic talents and clearly Seychelles potentials will be uncovered.
As a promotion campaign, a delegation of 100 Seychellois dancers will travel to Botswana in December 2022 to participate in the Mdundo Championship.
For more information , please visit Heartbeat Latin and Ballroom Dance Studio at Orion Mall, 2nd Floor, Room 212, Victoria – +248 2 837 228.
The accompanying photos show some of the young dancers with their certificates, medals and trophies after the Festival LaDans competition.
Source: Seychelles Nation