The Top 20 dancers on SABC1's reality dance competition
So You Think You Can Dance South Africa were revealed in last Saturday's show. From here on out they will be dancing for their lives each week in the live shows.
On Saturday 6 September at 18h00 viewers will be introduced to the first live show on SABC1. We'll get to see the Top 20 in action for the very first time.
The first part of the show was devoted to weeding out this Top 20 - now it's up to the voting public to help decide who stays and who goes. At this stage the Top 20 are focusing on winning the judges' votes - and those of the South African public.
The first live show will be a full 90-minute session. Host
Sade Giliberti will be keeping the action flowing and guest judge
Nigel Lythgoe will be bringing his experience on the US version of the show to the judge’s table.
The show now works like this: contestants are paired in 10 couples who each week dance their hearts out in routines tailor-made for each male/female pairing.
Viewers get their opportunity to vote for their favourite couple via SMS voting. Viewers have about 90 minutes – from 19h30 to 21h00 – to get their votes in.
The 30-minutes Results Shows, starting on SABC1 on Tuesday 9 September at 19h00, will reveal the dancers who impressed the most. Expect tears to flow as the bottom three couples - as voted by the public - are announced.
The judges will then have to decide on one male and one female dancer who will say goodbye to the competition.
The live broadcast of So You Think You Can Dance South Africa takes place each Saturday from 6 September until Saturday 1 November, when the winner is revealed. Both the live show and the Results Show are broadcast on SABC1, on Saturdays at 18h30 (for 90 minutes) and Tuesdays at 19h00 (for 30 minutes) respectively.
The shows are open to the public with tickets costing just R20 per person. They are available from all Computicket outlets as well as Shoprite/Checkers stores in Gauteng.
No tickets will be available at the door so all members of the public wanting to be in the live audience must arrive with their ticket already purchased.
In true TVSA fashion we have got the inside dirt on all the Top 20 contestants - check out their briefs below, and if you want to find out more about any of them click the link to their Full Profile.
One of them is soon going to be crowned the best dancer in South Africa. Who's it gonna be?
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Alistor Adams
Age: 19
From: Cape Town
Profession: Hip hop dance teacher
Quote: I started dancing at the age of 13 and had loads of brilliant experiences. Did loads of competitions and I’m rated as one of Cape Town’s best ‘pop & lockers’. If I win the money I’d like to start my own dance school.
Full Profile: Alistor Adams |
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Ashley Searle
Age: 25
From: Pretoria
Profession: Singer, dancer, actor (entertainer)
Quote: Shows I have appeared in include Fame, Chicago, Africa Footprint, We will rock you, Las Vegas Fantasy, Buddy Holly, Peter Pan Pantomime and Goldilocks Pantomime. My favourite dance genre is Showdancing.
Full Profile: Ashley Searle |
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Bathembu Myira
Age: 24
From: Johannesburg
Profession: Ballet/Contemporary Dancer
Quote: The guys in the townships must never think dancing is for girls only. I’m from Khayelitsha and I’m a professional dancer and I’m a guy so you can do whatever you want if you want. So stop carrying guns and start making a better life for yourselves.
Full Profile: Bathembu Myira |
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Darren Greef
Age: 19
From: Cape Town
Profession: Dance teacher at The Waterfront Theatre School
Quote: I would love to travel to different cities and explore their different forms of dance as well as take classes around the world. I hope to entertain you and show you my passion through dance.
Full Profile: Darren Greef |
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Elizma Wildschutte
Age: 26
From: Cape Town
Profession: Freelance dancer
Quote: My energy, mindset and love of dance is what will probably bring a difference to this competition. If I win the competition I will fix up my parents house and then I’d love to go study event management.
Full Profile: Elizma Wildschutte |
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Katlego Khunou
Age: 22
From: Kimberley
Profession: Dance instructor
Quote: I went to Blackpool in the UK in 2006 and to Germany to represent SA. Last year I went to a workshop in Finland and became SA Champion in 2006-2007. I was awarded an award at T.U.T University for best performance (K.Z.N)
Full Profile: Katlego Khunou |
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KG Ramphomane
Age: 25
From: Johannesburg
Profession: Dancer
Quote: If I won the competition I would give 10% to my church. Then renovate my mom’s house and give my younger brother a better education, then invest for the future. I would bring style and more entertainment for the show. For one good reason which is for God’s Glory.
Full Profile: KG Ramphomane |
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Kim McCusker
Age: 18
From: Pretoria
Profession: Dancer
Quote: It’s not always about where you’ve been, it’s about where you’re going to. Who cares about where you’re from your skin colour or your background. Everyone can find their own way to dance through life.
Full Profile: Kim McCusker |
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Kristin Wilson
Age: 25
From: Johannesburg
Profession: Professional Dancer/Choreographer
Quote: My boyfriend always makes me smile and laugh and I feel safe and loved by him. My friends make me laugh and remind me not to take myself too seriously and nothing makes me happier than a beautiful piece of music.
Full Profile: Kristin Wilson |
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Lee Piedt
Age: 25
From: Cape Town
Profession: Dancer
Quote: In 2003 I joined ballet Theatre African under Martin Schoenberg for 2 years. Thereafter I started freelancing in Johannesburg for 2 years. I've worked at Jazzart and with artists such as Danny K, Loyiso and Lebo Mathosa.
Full Profile: Lee Piedt |
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Louisa Talbot
Age: 27
From: Cape Town
Profession: Dancer/Performing artist
Quote: Be an individual, god has given us gifts, use them as a privilege, be passionate about what you do, love yourself and believe in yourself. If you believe, no proof is needed, if you don’t believe no proof is possible.
Full Profile: Louisa Talbot |
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Marise Dusheiko
Age: 25
From: Johannesburg
Profession: Dancer, Student, Radio DJ
Quote: My favourite dance genre is Contemporary. If I win the R250,000 I will put it towards opening my own dance studio and use some of it to travel. I love dancing - I know that will show in my performances.
Full Profile: Marise Dusheiko |
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Megan Erasmus
Age: 29
From: Johannesburg
Profession: Professional dancer
Quote: I Started out at CAFDA School of Dance in Retreat, Cape Town, joined Jazzart Dance Theatre for 3 years then moved to Johannesburg with Backstage (performed in the title sequence). I also danced with Lebo Mathosa for 5 years.
Full Profile: Megan Erasmus |
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Nqaba Mafilika
Age: 24
From: Cape Town
Profession: Classical ballet dancer
Quote: If you work hard on something really it will be paid back. I believe in the words of my late ballet teacher that there is no such thing as impossible. We can all do it. I’d like to show how well I pull my genre off.
Full Profile: Nqaba Mafilika |
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Samuel Seabi
Age: 29
From: Johannesburg
Profession: A theatrical performer
Quote: I’ve been dancing as long as I can remember but I didn’t think I would become a professional dancer because I thought dance wasn’t for me. I wanted to become an orthopaedic surgeon! I run a dance school called O.B.F (One Big Family).
Full Profile: Samuel Seabi |
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Tamara-Lee Thompson
Age: 19
From: Johannesburg
Profession: Student: studying sound engineering/music production
Quote: I danced with Shane Sparks from the American So You Think You Can Dance when he came to SA to do a workshop last year - he said if I go to America I must let him know he would love to work with me.
Full Profile: Tamara-Lee Thompson |
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Tania Knoop
Age: 21
From: Cape Town
Profession: Dancer
Quote: Never live with what if. Go for what you want and believe in yourself even if others don't and be the best you can be. Live your life because you only live once. Inspire others and be the best that you can be.
Full Profile: Tania Knoop |
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Tanya Stricker
Age: 23
From: Pretoria
Profession: Freelance performer
Quote: I will bring my passion and hunger for dance to the competition. I haven’t trained intensively for a good few years and focused on acting and signing so now I am so thirsty and eager to dance.
Full Profile: Tanya Stricker |
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Thabiso Lebuka
Age: 29
From: Johannesburg
Profession: Contemporary Dancer
Quote: I played the lead role in African Footprint with the original cast. Performed in front of Prince Charles at the Royal Variety show in London. I danced at the Millennium bash on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela and other dignitaries.
Full Profile: Thabiso Lebuka |
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Blaze Blasbalg
Age: 22
From: Johannesburg
Profession: Hip-Hop, Break dancer
Quote: I started dancing about 6-7 years ago, I taught myself how to break-dance using video clips until I met more ‘b-boys’ and started training with them. Since then I’ve progressed and started teaching break-dance and performing.
Full Profile: Blaze Blasbalg |
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