Now that Jorgia-Lee Andrews, 7, has clinched her first hip hop medals, she plans on going all the way to the top.
The Belthorn Estate dancer, who is a Grade 1 pupil at Turfhall Primary School, gave up ballet to pursue hip hop two years ago, and she has not looked back.
Jorgia-Lee took part in the Cape Town National Hip Hop and Performing Arts Championship, which was held at the Grade Performing Arts Centre in Parow, on Friday June 16, where she was placed first in the novice under-7 category for her solo, and second place for a duo with Jaylee Alexander.
The competition was hosted by the South African Body of Dance (SABOD).
She is part of the dance school Step Into Dance, which is run by teachers Heather Williams and Andrea Sefoor.
The pair teach hip hop dance at schools as an extra-mural activity, and also host Saturday classes in Claremont to accommodate those who are not attending the schools they teach at.
Jill Andrews, Jorgia-Lee’s mother, said this was the second competition her daughter entered.
“She competed in the Battle of the Giants in Johannesburg last year. However, they did not really have a category for her age and experience, so she ended up competing against older and more experienced dancers.
“Sending her there involved a lot of hard work and sacrifice, as we had to do fund-raising. We wanted her to experience it, however. I’m so happy that she did so well at the latest competition. She didn’t show a sign of nervousness and did so well,” Ms Andrews said.
A shy Jorgia-Lee comes alive once she is on the dance floor but all she could say to the Athlone News, is that she dances because she “just wants to have fun”.
Ms Andrews said Jorgia-Lee had already prepared them for what might come, when she announced at her Grade R graduation that she would like to be a hip hop dance teacher one day.
Step Into Dance entered 16 dancers in the Cape Town National Hip Hop and Performing Arts Championship. The team won six medals in total, for solo, duo and group performances.
“They all did exceptionally well and we are so proud of all of them. The way the parents supported each other’s children also really stood out for us. The support was amazing,” Ms Williams said.
