Wynberg Girls’ High competes in the Cape Dance Festival

Many Wynberg Girls competed in the Annual Cape Dance Festival at Bergvliet High School that was held from 12 – 16 October. These girls performed group and solo dances in front of a packed hall. The adjudicator was Duane Alexander, a well-known dancer and choreographer, who brought a fresh face to judging. It was great having him there because lots of the girls had never had a male critique their dancing before. He was a fair judge who smiled while they danced, clapped when they finished and gave really great comments when he read out his adjudications.

Each age group is divided into three categories according to ability: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Every dance is critiqued and classified into one of the following rankings: Pass, Merit, High Merit, Honours, High Honours and Diploma. First time Festival dancers are automatically placed in the Bronze category. On achieving Honours or above for the Solo Set Dance, performers are promoted to the Silver category the following year. Silver Dancers need to achieve Diploma in order to move up into the Gold category.

Dancers who are awarded Diploma automatically dance in the finals where they compete against each other. Almost all of the Wynberg Girls who competed made it to finals for at least one of their dances, and many of them won their categories.

Robyn Luden, Ashley Timlin, Tarryn Bydawell, Dani Adams, Amy Wragg and Tamsyn Gaynor were part of the winning Hip-Hop Group, with Robyn Luden also winning the Hip-Hop Set Solo.

Caitlin Rice did extremely well, coming first in her Own Choice and Set Solos, which earned her the award for the Best Silver Dancer in her age group.

Claire Wilkinson, Dani Wagner, Tarryn Beattie and Mikayla Isaacs were in “Face Off”, a Gold Group that won not only their category, but also the Adjudicator’s Award (award for the adjudicator’s favourite dance in Finals). Claire Wilkinson placed first in her Set Character; Dani Wagner came first in her Own Choice and, together with her duet partner, won the award for the Most Entertaining Performance; and Mikayla Isaacs came first in her Own Choice Solo, her Quartet and her trio.

A huge congratulations to Claire Wilkinson who also took part in the Dance Championships held this past weekend (23 October), coming third in her Set Solo Dance and Overall in the Intermediate Section.

All of the Wynberg Girls who danced in these events deserve to be thoroughly congratulated for their outstanding performances. Well done girls!