{"id":30522,"date":"2023-12-21T14:25:52","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T12:25:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/?p=30522"},"modified":"2023-12-22T09:49:49","modified_gmt":"2023-12-22T07:49:49","slug":"performing-on-pointe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/blog\/2023\/12\/21\/performing-on-pointe\/","title":{"rendered":"Performing on pointe"},"content":{"rendered":"

At just 14 years old, Thanda Tembe is already the principal lead dancer at Umhlanga\u2019s Break-Thru Dance Company and is actively pursuing her dream of becoming an internationally-recognised dancer one day. <\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"It takes passion, dedication and hard work to achieve your dream. Especially when that dream is to become a professional dancer. But young Thanda has already proven to herself, and those around her, just how hard she is willing to work and how dedicated she is to her art form. Not only was Thanda recently named \u2018Dancer of the Year\u2019 (in the fusion\/open category) for 2023 by the Association of International Dance Teachers (AIDT), but when she steps onto the Playhouse Company stage at the end of November to perform in the production \u2018Ekhaya – Home Is Where the Heart Is\u2019, she will be doing so as the principal lead dancer.<\/p>\n

Passionate about all forms of dance, Thanda is proficient in ballet, contemporary, tap, hip hop, modern and musical theatre \u2013 and she trains six days (25 hours) every week. Thanda\u2019s instructor and owner of Break-Thru Dance Company (BTDC) Taryn Makaab Smit says that even from a young age she knew Thanda was something special. \u201cShe started dancing with us when she was 8 years old and I knew she would go far, not only because of her potential, but because there was always a fire in her step.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Thanda, her love for dance was ignited after seeing her first BTDC production at The Playhouse. \u201cI was so inspired by the many young, talented girls dancing in different styles. Everything, from the costumes to the stage setting, seemed so magical. I joined the dance company the following year and I have never looked back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBallet teaches me discipline, balance and strength.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"Although she loves all forms of dance, Thanda says ballet gives her the technical base she needs for all the other styles. \u201cBallet teaches me discipline, balance and strength.\u00a0My other favourite is contemporary, which allows me to tell a story through movement, musicality and emotion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because she is home-schooled, Thanda can dedicate more time to her dancing. \u201cBTDC offers a performing arts programme, which is perfect for home schooling kids because we get an extra nine hours a week of dance.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the most versatile dancers in the academy, Taryn says she is excited see what the future holds for young Thanda. \u201cWatching her dance makes me burst with pride. It has been a blessing to see her grow from strength to strength, and I know she will leave a mark wherever she goes.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what does the future have in store for Thanda? \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to traveling overseas with my parents next year to participate in summer programmes and competitions with BTDC. There can be nothing more exciting than representing my city and my country. My ultimate goal is to dance with the Dance Theatre of Harlem one day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photographs:<\/strong> Samantha coutts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At just 14 years old, Thanda Tembe is already the principal lead dancer at Umhlanga\u2019s Break-Thru Dance Company and is actively pursuing her dream of becoming an internationally-recognised dancer one day. It takes passion, dedication and hard work to achieve your dream. Especially when that dream is to become a professional dancer. But young Thanda […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":115,"featured_media":30520,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[479,20],"tags":[1524,10007,10009,9749,10008,10010],"class_list":{"0":"post-30522","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-people","8":"category-personalities","9":"tag-ballet","10":"tag-cancing","11":"tag-emotion","12":"tag-movement","13":"tag-musicality","14":"tag-performing-arts"},"yoast_head":"\nPerforming on pointe - Get It Ballito & Umhlanga<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/blog\/2023\/12\/21\/performing-on-pointe\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Performing on pointe - Get It Ballito & Umhlanga\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At just 14 years old, Thanda Tembe is already the principal lead dancer at Umhlanga\u2019s Break-Thru Dance Company and is actively pursuing her dream of becoming an internationally-recognised dancer one day. 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