Dancers need help getting to hip hop champs

Two best friends from Table View have qualified to represent South Africa at an international hip hop competition in Portugal at the end of October, but they need help getting there.

Thirteen-year-olds Abigail Sinden and Tayden Sampson, are both in Grade 7 at Sunningdale Primary School, and they dance with the Furia dance crew at the Splice Dance Studio.

They each need more than R20 000 to make it to Óbidos in Portugal next month for the 2024 Hip-Hop Unite Championships.

The competition takes place from Thursday October 24 to Saturday October 26, says South African Sport Aerobics, Fitness & Hip Hop Federation (SASAFF) president Lynette le Roux.

According to her, the trip’s total cost for each girl is R27 150 and includes R13 500 for airfare; R5400 for accommodation with meals, R1600 for land transportation, R700 for the registration fee, R600 for travel insurance, R2550 for costumes and R2800 for visas.

Donations should be made into the SASAFF’s bank account, said Ms Le Roux.

Abigail, who did ballet before starting with hip hop, said she enjoyed dancing alongside her best friend.

“We encourage each other and push each other to our limits. We share a passion for dancing and we can relate to each other when it comes to competitions. We help each other when we aren’t always getting the steps – and often just start dancing when we see each other.”

Abigail said the sport demanded hard work and the ability to overcome obstacles and work as a team.

She said it “would mean the world” to her if she could represent her country and meet other dancers from around the world

“We have worked so hard, training almost four-to-six hours a week,” she said.

Tayden, who started doing hip hop at 10, said: “Dancing together (with Abigail) is my favourite of my day. We always manage to make amazing memories even if we are just dancing for fun.

“Being a dancer is not easy, and being open to criticism is crucial if I want to succeed in dancing.”

Her idea of a great performer was someone who believed in themselves and always strove to do better, she said.

“Being able to show my talent in front of the people from all over the world would mean a great deal to me and is really a dream come true,” she said.

To help the girls get to Portugal, contact SASAFF at gsecretary@sasaff.co.za or 021 949 6023.