KNYSNA NEWS - Fourteen dancers from the Art in Motion Dance Academy have made an impressive start to August, securing a haul of awards at two regional dance competitions in Mossel Bay within the space of one week.
The dancers first took to the stage at the Dance for Growth competition on 1 August, when they won 14 gold and eight silver awards.
The highlight was the prestigious best overall contemporary solo trophy, awarded to the 14-year-old Harlow Holmes for her contemporary solo.
The Art in Motion dancers showcased their versatility across contemporary, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop and acro, and gold performances were achieved in the solo, duet and group categories.
Just five days later, on 6 and 7 August, the dancers returned to Mossel Bay for the Move! regionals, where they delivered strong performances again, earning two gold, 15 silver and three bronze awards, as well as an honorary mention.
These results have also opened the door to further national competition opportunities. All gold-awarded entries from the Dance for Growth qualified for the nationals in Pretoria in 2027.
At the Move! regionals, all Art in Motion entries that achieved bronze or higher qualified the nationals in Cape Town in September this year.
For many of these dancers, competing at two events so close together provided an opportunity to build their ability to adapt to various competition environments.
Several dancers also competed in multiple styles and categories across the two events.
"Competing twice within such a short period requires commitment, preparation and mental resilience, and the dancers really stepped up," said Maria Coetzer, director of Art in Motion Dance Academy.
"What makes me most proud is seeing them grow in confidence and support one another, and continue to challenge themselves across different styles."
The dancers will now turn their attention to the academy's annual showcase, Memories in Motion, which will take place at the Knysna Church Hall on 10 and 11 September.
The showcase will mark a special milestone for Art in Motion, which is celebrating 10 years in Knysna.
The production will feature a collection of recreated favourite dance items from across the academy's history, giving the dancers the opportunity to celebrate the milestone with the Knysna community.
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