Dancers need money for championships

NAMPA

Dance Sport Namibia (DSN) needs financial assistance to help realise its dream of allowing dancers to compete at the International Dance Organisation (IDO) Commonwealth Dance Championships for the first time.

The dance championships will be held at Sun City Resort in South Africa from 3 to 8 September.

Speaking at a media conference in Windhoek on Friday, Venancius Rukero, the interim secretary of DSN, said the organisation needed N$100 000 to cover their entry fees, accommodation and meals during the competition.

“We spoke to the government about these championships and they have committed to providing transport for us, but as a newly established organisation, we do not have the funds to cater for the rest of our needs,” he said.

Rukero said this is the first time that dancing is regarded as a sport code in Namibia.

The organisation will select 16 dancers to represent the country at the championships.

“This year we want to participate at this Commonwealth Dance Championships as a test drive to see how things are done at the bigger stage,” he said.

The IDO Commonwealth Dance Championships are held every second year in a different Commonwealth country.

Some of the IDO disciplines are performing arts, street dance and special couples’ dances.

DSN is a new member of the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC), the Dance Sport Federation and the Namibia Sport Commission.