Introducing the Superdance SA judges who'll be deciding who has what it takes to snatch the title and who needs to leave the floor
...
Kagiso Ntseane
Boogy stats
- Four-time South African Dance Champion
- Partnered celeb Florence Masebe in Strictly Come Dancing 1
- A dance teacher at the Mmabana Foundation and co-owner of KM Sportiv Events.
- His professional dancing partners include Tebogo Kgobokoe (coming up) and Mary Martin. (His rebound after him-and-Tebogo broke up)
Tashi: It may sound like a cliché but I genuinely don't know - what should we as the audience be looking for in the dancers?
Kagiso: The package - the couple must be a package: from their presentation to their technique to their understanding of each dance. They have all the different Latin dances that we’re judging them on and they need to show the character of each dance.
Tashi: For the dancers it’s gonna be a big deal if they go through to the finals - what would you say your biggest deal has been in your career?
Kagiso: I was very fortunate because I had good teachers and advisers. When I was dancing I was able to perform outside of the country - I made the finals of the Championships overseas ... Getting that opportunity to dance overseas you feel so blessed and want to cherish every moment.
Tashi: Can you spill one moment in the auditions that’s impacted on you dramatically?
Kagiso: I’ve really liked Cape Town - there’s a
*girl here, I’ll take that memory - she’s got a lot of talent. I’m loving her.
Tashi: If you were to sum-up what dancing means to you in one word - what would it be?
Kagiso: Lifestyle. It went from being what I love to do, then it became my passion and now it’s my lifestyle - I can’t do anything without it. It influences a lot of things in my life - the way I perceive people, the way I take care of myself, the way I talk to people. It’s got a huge influence besides the dancing.
Tebogo Kgobokoe
Boogy stats
Tashi:
What are you looking for in a champion dancing couple?Tebogo:
The full package. The grooming, their understanding of technique: understanding the footwork, balance - understanding the man/woman relationship. Also, if they’ve got something about them - something their eyes or energy that’s vibrant. Of course the Latin dances are vibrant in their own. They must have that je ne sais quoi.Tashi:
I suppose you’ve seen a lot of je ne sais NOT?Tebogo:
There will always be je ne sais NOT. You know, sometimes in people’s own minds, they think they have the feeling - they arrive and they have the feeling but don’t know what it looks like and need a third eye.Last week we were in Durban and saw this guy - he really couldn’t dance. He came because his wife wanted to dance so much - I thought it was absolutely fabulous . I mean not a lot of men would do that. Tashi:
If you were to sum-up what dancing means to you in one word - what would it be?Tebogo:
Life-and-rhythm. Life is rhythmical, a rhythm has got a flow to it. All the ups and the downs create life. Tashi:
And your speciality dance that you know you’re the best at?Tebogo:
*laughs “I’m fabulous at them all! *laughs*
Michael Wentink
Boogy stats
- 12-time South African Dance Champion
- Winner of Strictly Come Dancing 1, with his celeb partner Zuraida Jardine
- Current Japanese Dance Champion - truly. It turns out he's living in Japan and has just won their national dance competition.
- Has also danced professionally with Tebogo.
Tashi
: What are you looking for in the competition?Michael:
A lot of different things and not one specific thing. Each couple produces something different, for me it’s what comes from inside that matters. Sometimes people just look at technique and it’s not enough. I like to see a well-though out, well groomed, product. If they have some kind of product as opposed to one element. I can put a couple through who might not be technically good but have great pizzazz; and I might not put through a couple who have great technique but no chemistry. I’m looking at what they’re trying to say - what is their message?Tashi:
Do you think you’re overly fancy having won Strictly Come Dancing?Michael:
No, I mean it was a huge project, it wasn’t easy because the celebrities have no muscular memory so you never know what they’re going to do - each week you’re hanging on the edge. It was a great experience, Zuraida and I had great chemistry but no - I’m not All That.Tashi:
What do you think you bring from that show to this one?Michael:
I think it’s comepletely different - here we’re looking at high-end dancing with people who want to make a living from it.Tashi:
So you’re saying the celebs are useless?Michael:
Not at all - actually what they do in one week is unbelievable. It just shows you what you can do under pressure but this is a totally different ballroom.Tashi:
One word that describes what dancing means to you?Michael:
Passion. Passion defines everything. Without the passion you’ve got nothing. You can do something for all sorts of different reasons but without passion it’s meaningless.
The show premieres on Wednesday, 16 September 2009 and runs for 13 weeks.For the audition dance action in Cape Town, click HERE.