EL pupils off to Los Angeles

FOUR Selborne College pupils will represent South Africa, at the World Performing Arts championships in Los Angeles in July this year.

These pupils have just returned from Rustenburg, where they collected five gold medals collectively for dancing, at the South African Performing Arts Competition.

Mbasa Soga, in Grade 11, won two gold medals and one silver for his solo performance. He said he was excited because it had been his first time at the competition.

“I am quite impressed with myself considering that this was my first time participating,” he said.

Soga has been dancing for the past nine but only got serious about it three years ago.

“I started preparing for the competition at the beginning of the year because I knew it would be a tough one,” said Soga.

Soga said he had a real passion for dancing and hoped to make a career out of it after school.

“People tell me how difficult it is to crack choreography; but I am not deterred.

Any career can be a success if you are truly passionate about it,” he said.

According to Soga, preparing for the competition while having to worry about school work, was a bit of a challenge.

“It took a lot out of me, but I did not mind because I love what I do,” he said.

He also attributes his success to the immense support he received from his dance teacher and fellow dance mates.

“Sometimes during practice, I would be stuck and one of my school mates would have an idea that works; they have been supportive,” said Soga.

Soga said the only challenge he faced now was raising the funds to travel to Los Angeles, but he hoped his family would find a way.

“We have approached a few people for sponsorships and so I hope by July, I would have gained the means to go to LA,” Soga said. —