By Anica Hattingh and Jana Gous
A moment of unity on the dance floor as the two teams, Team Dagbreek (Niel Slabbert, Vice-Prim of Dagbreek, and Gia Oliver, MBLDS member) and Team Metonia (Seth Scott, Prim of Metonia, and Andrea Slabber, MBLDS member), meet in the middle of the dance floor. Photo by Anica Hattingh.
The Maties Ballroom and Latin-American Dance Society (MBLDS) brought rhythm and glamour to campus with its event, Dancing in Style. Inspired by the hit TV series Strictly Come Dancing, the evening brought participants from across campus onto the dance floor.
A total of nine student leaders, three lecturers and twelve MBLDS members took part in the competition hosted on 17 April at the Academia Hall. These student leaders, such as Irene’s Prim, Christelle Venter, represented their on-campus residence. MBLDS paired each dancer with a student leader or lecturer. In true Strictly Come Dancing fashion, each pair had the freedom to choose their own costume, dance style and song, which resulted in a diverse showcase of performances ranging from elegant ballroom routines to energetic Latin numbers.
The event made dancing feel less intimidating for many participants. Dagbreek Vice-Prim Niel Slabbert said, “I love the idea of being able to dance, but not so much the process. Being invited to take part in Dancing in Style took away the friction and made the option of learning how to dance very simple: just say yes.”
While the performances appeared seamless, Slabbert reflects, “Staying patient with myself and my progress was frustrating at times, but with my dance partner Gia’s help, I learned to keep a cool and level head under pressure.” Gia Oliver is a member of MBLDS and was selected to train and compete with Slabbert, taking the lead as a more advanced dancer.
The atmosphere was charged with jovial energy from the crowd. Members of student residences and Commuter Student Communities (CSC) all came together to cheer on their respective leaders. Pieke CSC lifted their posters higher and made sure that their Vice-Prim, Amy Vermaak, knew that she had their support.
A quiet moment before team members, Anneri Swart (Vice-Prim of Minerva) and Marcel de Villiers (MBLDS member), take the stage. Photo by Anica Hattingh.
For Irene Vice-Prim Lihané Roux, the experience was as much about personal growth as performance. “I wanted to put myself out of my comfort zone and just go for it,” she says, noting that the event exceeded her expectations. Like many participants, she had to balance rehearsals with academic demands, joking that “between presentations and assignments, I was doing the cha-cha and the waltz, keeping life interesting.”
After the winners, Chloe Farinha (Ex-Prim of Olympus) and Rowan Mentoor (MBLDS member), were announced, the evening concluded with a traditional line dance. The organisers encouraged the audience members to loosen up and join in on the fun that they had been spectating all evening.
From the MBLDS dancers’ perspective, the event was equally rewarding. Dancer Cassidy Pringle describes her partner, Arnold Ntumvi, Chair of the Prim Committee, as “an absolute pleasure to work with,” pointing to the enthusiasm and rhythm that student leaders brought to the floor. This was evident as the dancers encouraged the crowd to cheer louder, often pointing to their supporters from where they twirled on the dance floor.
The event showcased the talent within MBLDS and also fostered a sense of community across different groups at Stellenbosch University (SU). With its vibrant atmosphere and impressive performances, Dancing in Style proved to be an unforgettable night of music, movement and Maties spirit.
