The Johannesburg edition of the competition will run from October 31st to November 2nd.
The much-anticipated Amapiano Dance Championships will be held in Johannesburg later this month.
Following the success of the Cape Town event, the Amapiano Dance Championship is now preparing for the Johannesburg competition, which will be held from 31 October to 2 November.
The competition will continue to tour South Africa, with stops scheduled to take place in Durban, Bloemfontein and Gkebela.
Organized by Elvis Sibeco Studio in collaboration with Joburg Theatre, the competition gives young dancers a platform to showcase their talent on a professional stage and the chance to win big prizes.
Prizes include a grand prize of R50,000, as well as several awards for outstanding performers in the soloist, duo/trio and group categories.
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Birth of the idea for “Amapiano Dance Championship”
talk to The Citizenexperienced theater director and choreographer Elvis Sibeco said the event aims to give young amapiano dancers a stepping stone to turn their passion into a sustainable career.
He explained that although he has produced numerous African musicals and concerts over the years, he felt he had to do something different this year.
“So every year we ask theaters to produce African musicals and concerts and things like that. But this year we said no. “I want to create a platform for amapiano dancers,” he said.
Sibeko said the idea came about while traveling to different states as a guest judge for the town's Amapiano dance contest.
He realized that many dancers don't have the opportunity to perform on larger, more specialized stages.
“I saw a lot of potential, and I thought, “This can't stay within the village.'' We need to branch out to bigger platforms like theaters, Broadway, and even overseas.
“So I decided to create a platform where these dancers could showcase their talent in a prestigious space like the Joburg Theatre.”
“It’s more than just competition.”
Mr Sibeko said the Amapiano Dance Championship was a movement aimed at uplifting young people in South Africa, especially those from disadvantaged communities.
“This is not just a platform for competition, we will also be holding workshops on theatre, showbiz and marketing.
“We want the dancers who qualify for our competitions to take home more than just trophies and prize money. We want to provide them with job creation and skills development opportunities. That's what I think.
“They need to understand how to turn their talent into a career and put food on the table.”
The workshop, worth R25,000, will cover key skills such as choreography, costume design, lighting and sound engineering.
Additionally, there will be sessions on how to navigate the business side of the entertainment industry, including understanding contracts, collaborating with brands, and securing sustainable work.
“Most of these dancers have a hard time understanding how the trade and entertainment business works. We want them to be able to make a living off their talent and not just as backup dancers for famous Amapiano artists. We want them to have the knowledge they need to succeed as professionals.”
Registration is still being accepted
Mr Sibeko said registration for the Johannesburg event closes on Friday, October 25.
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