Dance to be Wild- Celebration of Africa
Sat Mar 19, 09:00 - Mon Mar 21, 22:00
The German International School
ABOUT
Dance to be Wild Embracing Children into the family of Conservationthrough the beauty of dance!
With the origins of the majority of Latin American dances finding their roots in Africa, Ballroom & Latin American dancing provides a unique opportunity to bring conservation awareness to African children!
The Dance to be Wild dream was born whilst discussing development of South African dance talent with Klaus Kongsdal (former Danish & European Latin American dance champion) and his wife Katya Virshilas - Star of Take the Lead (Antonio Banderas), Shall We Dance (Richard Gere & Jennifer Lopez) and Professional Dancer on Strictly Come Dancing UK. Furthermore, how could the international dance community contribute in a meaningful way to protecting South Africa’s wildlife resources – more especially our rhino, elephants and lion populations?
It was following a visit to The Rhino Orphanage with Klaus Kongsdal that we realised that we could do more! With dancing being an intrinsic part of African culture, the DTBW initiative could bring increased social skills development programmes and address serious social issues such as women and child abuse as well – we realised that children could not receive the conservation message without realising their own true value and potential.
Not only is Africa the birthplace of humankind as we know it today, the majority of music and rhythms still enjoyed throughout the world today find their roots on this beautiful continent we call home! South Africa has produced some of the best dancers in the world, many of them now form part of our elite DTBW Ambassadorial team. Darren Hammond (Under 21 World, British, Dutch Open and SA Latin Champion), Gerhard Van Rooyen & Amor Kruger (World, British, Dutch Open Exhbition Champions), Ryan Hammond & Lindsey Muckle (former British Exhibition Champions, both Winners of Strictly Come Dancing SA) and Emmanuel Castis (Winner of Strictly Come Dancing SA, singer, songwriter and acclaimed actor).With successful partnerships between Dance to be Wild and fellow conservation initiatives, our commitment is to reach schools in rural areas, so that, through the beauty of the Arts, we will empower future generations to take
With the origins of the majority of Latin American dances finding their roots in Africa, Ballroom & Latin American dancing provides a unique opportunity to bring conservation awareness to African children!
The Dance to be Wild dream was born whilst discussing development of South African dance talent with Klaus Kongsdal (former Danish & European Latin American dance champion) and his wife Katya Virshilas - Star of Take the Lead (Antonio Banderas), Shall We Dance (Richard Gere & Jennifer Lopez) and Professional Dancer on Strictly Come Dancing UK. Furthermore, how could the international dance community contribute in a meaningful way to protecting South Africa’s wildlife resources – more especially our rhino, elephants and lion populations?
It was following a visit to The Rhino Orphanage with Klaus Kongsdal that we realised that we could do more! With dancing being an intrinsic part of African culture, the DTBW initiative could bring increased social skills development programmes and address serious social issues such as women and child abuse as well – we realised that children could not receive the conservation message without realising their own true value and potential.
Not only is Africa the birthplace of humankind as we know it today, the majority of music and rhythms still enjoyed throughout the world today find their roots on this beautiful continent we call home! South Africa has produced some of the best dancers in the world, many of them now form part of our elite DTBW Ambassadorial team. Darren Hammond (Under 21 World, British, Dutch Open and SA Latin Champion), Gerhard Van Rooyen & Amor Kruger (World, British, Dutch Open Exhbition Champions), Ryan Hammond & Lindsey Muckle (former British Exhibition Champions, both Winners of Strictly Come Dancing SA) and Emmanuel Castis (Winner of Strictly Come Dancing SA, singer, songwriter and acclaimed actor).With successful partnerships between Dance to be Wild and fellow conservation initiatives, our commitment is to reach schools in rural areas, so that, through the beauty of the Arts, we will empower future generations to take
RHINO PROJECT
GALLERY
MOBILISING
Not only is Ballroom & Latin American dancing extremely popular in Africa, Asian countries such as China, enjoy participation of approximately 800 million dancers. With these staggering figures, dancing provides an ideal platform to change perceptions and create awareness in countries creating the demand for wildlife products from Africa. Our International Ambassador, Klaus Kongsdal, spends the larger part of each year training dancers in China – once again
this is a wonderful opportunity for him to embrace Asian dancers into the family of Conservation and reduce demand and consumption of proceeds of wildlife crime.
The Dance to be Wild initiative has been endorsed by both the “World Dance Council” and “Freedom to Dance International”. To date we enjoy a membership in excess of 4700 dancers worldwide. The inaugural Dance to be Wild Ballroom and Latin American Championships was held in Johannesburg, South Africa during March 2013 and attracted approximately 250 dancers. The number of dancers participating in the DTBW Championship has grown to over 400 in 2014 and over 600 participants in 2015! Our annual DTBW Championships are international events and, to date, we have enjoyed hosting Ballroom and Latin American dancers from Italy, Denmark and the Ukraine.
With increased awareness and professional marketing strategies, we hope to attract competitors from all countries worldwide! For our 2016 DTBW Championships, we will be marketing attractive packages for our international dance community which will include, not only, participation in the competition, but also visits to sanctuaries and game parks. It is imperative that each dancer returns to their own countries educated and aware of the crisis facing African wildlife.
this is a wonderful opportunity for him to embrace Asian dancers into the family of Conservation and reduce demand and consumption of proceeds of wildlife crime.
The Dance to be Wild initiative has been endorsed by both the “World Dance Council” and “Freedom to Dance International”. To date we enjoy a membership in excess of 4700 dancers worldwide. The inaugural Dance to be Wild Ballroom and Latin American Championships was held in Johannesburg, South Africa during March 2013 and attracted approximately 250 dancers. The number of dancers participating in the DTBW Championship has grown to over 400 in 2014 and over 600 participants in 2015! Our annual DTBW Championships are international events and, to date, we have enjoyed hosting Ballroom and Latin American dancers from Italy, Denmark and the Ukraine.
With increased awareness and professional marketing strategies, we hope to attract competitors from all countries worldwide! For our 2016 DTBW Championships, we will be marketing attractive packages for our international dance community which will include, not only, participation in the competition, but also visits to sanctuaries and game parks. It is imperative that each dancer returns to their own countries educated and aware of the crisis facing African wildlife.
EMBRACING SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDREN
Experience has shown that the most challenging task is sharing the conservation message with communities andchildren who have never had the opportunity to see live wild animals in their natural habitat, let alone enjoyed the experience of and true majesty of the African bush.
Through the DTBW Youth Ambassador programme, known as “Wild Entertainers of Tomorrow” (Wets), we are committed to nurturing and embracing the Leaders of tomorrow. During 2014, three “city” dance children visited the Hoedspruit area and exhibited their talents at the Kick it for Conservation Soccer Tournament. Not only were they the stars of the show, we also visited a local school in the Orpen Gate area where they inspired the local school children
with their dance prowess. More importantly, our Wets, for the very first time in their lives, witnessed wild animals in their natural surroundings.
South African children are hungry for knowledge and the opportunity to participate in the protection of their right wildlife heritage!Dance to be Wild now has Outreach / Development programmes in Orange Farm and Katlehong (Gauteng) plus wehave recently launched our DTBW KwaZulu Natal project. Within three weeks of kick-off in KZN, our team now embrace 30 children in the KwaMashu community.
As ardent supporters of the Bongi’s Quest initiative, not only do we try and assist in sponsoring books for children in the Kruger Park area through Chris Daniel, but we also ensure that ‘city’ children have access to this wonderful publication which serves, not only as a beautiful wildlife story but also as a literacy aid.
For Christmas 2015, DTBW sponsored gifts for 500 children of Game Rangers in the Kruger National Park. Further enhancing our vision to honouring all that is truly African – our children and our wildlife!
Through the DTBW Youth Ambassador programme, known as “Wild Entertainers of Tomorrow” (Wets), we are committed to nurturing and embracing the Leaders of tomorrow. During 2014, three “city” dance children visited the Hoedspruit area and exhibited their talents at the Kick it for Conservation Soccer Tournament. Not only were they the stars of the show, we also visited a local school in the Orpen Gate area where they inspired the local school children
with their dance prowess. More importantly, our Wets, for the very first time in their lives, witnessed wild animals in their natural surroundings.
South African children are hungry for knowledge and the opportunity to participate in the protection of their right wildlife heritage!Dance to be Wild now has Outreach / Development programmes in Orange Farm and Katlehong (Gauteng) plus wehave recently launched our DTBW KwaZulu Natal project. Within three weeks of kick-off in KZN, our team now embrace 30 children in the KwaMashu community.
As ardent supporters of the Bongi’s Quest initiative, not only do we try and assist in sponsoring books for children in the Kruger Park area through Chris Daniel, but we also ensure that ‘city’ children have access to this wonderful publication which serves, not only as a beautiful wildlife story but also as a literacy aid.
For Christmas 2015, DTBW sponsored gifts for 500 children of Game Rangers in the Kruger National Park. Further enhancing our vision to honouring all that is truly African – our children and our wildlife!
DIRECTIONS
Dance to be Wild- Celebration of Africa
The German International School
Sans Souci Weg, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa
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