Witsies dancing to their own tune

by | Aug 11, 2011 | Featured 1

Linda Dlamini, Ennelda Ngobeni, Lauren Carey Naegeli and Daniel Fynes-Clinton at the Intervarsity. Photo: Courtesy Sithembile Mabaso.

THE Dance@Wits Latin and ballroom team twirled and twisted all the way down to Stellenbosch for the annual Intervarsity competition that took place from August 5-8.

Ballroom and Latin societies from six universities came together at the event to show what they were made of. The competition ranged from beginner to novice and there were many heats to reach the finals.

Sinentlahla Mnqeta and Sithembile Mabaso, both 4th year medical students and members of Dance@Wits, went to Stellenbosch where Mnqeta took part in the Latin competition while Mabaso went to support the Witsie dancers.

“Our novice Latin couples came 2nd and 5th while the beginner Latin couple came 6th. Two of the ballroom couples reached the quarter-finals,” said Mnqeta.

Mnqeta and her partner reached the final in the Latin section.

“This year we did better than previous years in our Latin and ballroom. Dance@Wits has many disciplines [of dance] and for a few years those [others] shone, but this year the Latin and ballroom were better,” said Mnqeta.

“No one from Wits fell, luckily,” said Mnqeta and Mabaso together.

“Some of the universities are really over the top and the dancers have very big egos. We just dance for fun and enjoy it,” said Mnqeta.

For both Mnqeta and Mabaso the best thing about Intervarsity was the bonding experience.

“We bonded with each other and the other universities,” said Mabaso.

Mnqeta added: “We also went sightseeing and especially enjoyed the Flood Museum in Laingsburg on our 20-hour bus trip.”

The University of Cape Town was the overall winner with Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Stellenbosch, University of Pretoria, Rhodes and Wits filling up the other spots.

Mnqeta and Mabaso encouraged Witsies to join Dance@Wits. “The instructors are supportive and patient,” said Mabaso.

“I started Latin seven months ago,” said Mnqeta “and I made the finals.”

Witsies can check out Dance@Wits’ Facebook page and contact them at dance.wits@gmail.com.