Dance activity does not get the attention it deserves

“Our challenges don’t start when we are faced with financial problems to assist athletes to dance overseas. Our main problem is that in SA dance is not that much recognised and that contributes to our failure to attract sponsors and funders,” said Mkhize.

To develop the sport at a grassroot level, the federation runs workshops across the province. He said another challenge was lack of facilities to train aspiring dancers.

“Before we can produce elite dancers our difficulties start at grassroot level where the sport cannot be developed due to financial constraints and lack of facilities. When we arrive in different areas to conduct workshops we find that community halls are closed.

“We are pleading with municipalities to ensure that community halls are opened for children to utilise them for dance because dance is one of the sports that unites people,” Mkhize said.

He said many children were indulging in substance abuse because they were vulnerable, and the more they were allowed to participate in extramural activities in halls, the better the future of our country will be.