Banze Iness – a dancer destined for the world stage!
11 December 2020
Banze Iness, a 17-year old learner at Vanrhynsdorp High School, is passionate about dance.
She has taken the first steps to accomplish her dream of dancing on an international stage by entering a competition, “Dans in jou taal”, on Kyknet. Her video was selected for broadcast this month.
Banze also auditioned for a dance development programme, Danslyn and was selected as one of only 13 participants from the Western Cape. She has received online lessons for the past six months and, with very hard work and dedication, grew into an extraordinary dancer. The Danslyn programme will be filmed in Johannesburg in January 2021.
“Dance is my lifeline, my food for my soul and if your soul is happy, you are happy. I am a dancer! I do not know what other word to use to describe my love for dance,” she said.
Banze started to dance as part of the Mass participation; Opportunity and access; Development and growth (MOD) Programme, an after-school programme that provides school-going youth with access to various fun-filled, play-based and modified activities in recreation and sport, as well as in arts and culture.
While practising for Danslyn during lockdown, Banze realised that there was a need for a dance school in Hopland in Vanrhynsdorp to keep the children busy and inspired. She started a dance school in the street! They rehearse on an open field and have performed for their community on many occasions.
She explains that she wants to motivate people from rural towns with limit opportunity for exposure to reach for their dreams. “I want to inspire people of small towns that every dream can be fulfilled if you can see your dream as a reality. I want to make a life out of dance, and I know that when I believe, all things are possible. I know with this passion and love that I have, I can achieve all my dreams and doors will open.”
Laurika Steenkamp, an Arts and Culture teacher at Vanrhynsdorp High, said Banzo inspires her daily and. “I will go to the ends of the earth to make her dreams a reality!”
