About Dance Sport

The Swaziland Dance Sport Association (SWADANSA) is a mother body for dance sport in Swaziland focusing on ballroom dance, Latin American dance and the newly introduced Freestyle Hip Hop and Pantsula dances. The association hosts trainings, competitions and championships for dancers.

Dance sport was first introduced in the country in the early 70’s as a form of entertainment and as a sport. Dancers would participate in competitions in South Africa and other neighbouring countries. Today it has grown in such a way that some schools have integrated it into their extra curricular activities.

Dance sport is a classic and elegant sport that seeks to enhance recreation, solidarity and respect amongst people of all colour, race, class and religion. The Dance Sport Azssociation seeks to promote cooperation between clubs, the association, the national Sports Council and International Federations.

Dance sport goes beyond the sporting nature as it also touches on factors such as physical health, social events (entertainment) and it is unique that it does not discriminate people in any way, be it gender, race, colour, age and even disability.

Dance sport is fully recognised and financially supported by the Swaziland National Sports Council (SNSC). It is also recognised by the Southern African Dance Sport Federation (SADSF) and International Dance Sport Federation (IDSF). The association has a fully fledged office housed under the SNSC.

Dance sport is the term used to describe competitive ballroom dancing. Ballroom dancing has been recognised as a sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Dance Sport governing bodies are working towards getting Dance Sport officially included in most internationally recognised games such as the SCASA Zone VI Games, All Africa Games and other world sport events. In the meantime, there are still major championships held around the world where ballroom dancers win various national and world titles.

Officially, there are 10 International style dances divided into two programmes: Standard ballroom (Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot and Quickstep) and Latin American (Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive). A defining feature of the Standard Ballroom division is that dancers never leave the dance frame – there are no underarm spins, lifts, or alternate hand holds. In Latin, dancers are free to separate and dance side-by-side etc. Dance sport is considered an agent of International Dance Sport Federation to promote and regulate dance sport in our Region.

Maximise the number of National Olympic Committee’s who are members of the International Dance Sport Federation (IDSF).

The Swaziland Dance Sport Association will be hosting its 2nd edition of the ‘Just Come Dancing’ competition on the March 27, 2009. The event which aims at the promotion of dance sport in Swaziland will be held at the Convention Centre, Ezulwini, starting at 6pm. The event also serves as a platform to showcase existing talent and raw talent as professional dancers have been paired with complete newcomers to the sport of dance.

Considering the magnitude of the event, The Swaziland Dance Sport Association is offering tables to a few identified corporate to meet some of the financial obligations of hosting such an event. A table which sits 10 people is going at E2 000. Individual tickets cost E200.

This amount entitles guest to a three course dinner on the night. It is in this regard therefore that the association invites and requests organisation/public to purchase a table and/or individual tickets.

The aim of the event is to promote the dance sport in Swaziland and showcase talent of our dancers. It will also give interest amongst different people from the society in this form of recreational activity and enhancing the spirit of sportsmanship.

It will foster, promote and improve the standard of Ballroom, Latin American in Swaziland to the extent that it shall conform to International Standards. This competition will also make people realise that you can dance even if you are old, young, fat and slim.

Local celebrities have been paired with our professional dancers to compete during this event. This will encourage our society to join the dance sport.

We, therefore, requests for sponsorship from the public. In return for their sponsorship, we will take out statements in the Print and Electronic Media about the role played by their company in the development of our sport and we will also send them a free ticket to the event. The media will be recognised and included in the marketing before and during the event.

We kindly requests the public to come and support their favorite stars on the day, tickets are available from the following outlets:

l Portuguese Club (Mbabane)

l SWADANSA Office (Sports Council) – Dlanubeka House 7th Floor

l House on Fire (Malkerns)

l TV Doctors (Manzini)

l Fitness Zone (Matsapha)

The 2nd edition participants of ‘Just Come Dancing’ include Sihlangu Coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba, people should come and watch him doing his Quick Step and Rumba and Sports Council’s CEO Victor Shabangu, he’ll be doing Jive and Waltz, House on Fire’s Jiggs Thorne; Samba and Waltz, songbird Lando Dlamini, Top Lotto’s PRO Khethiwe Alexander; Rumba and Tango, Times of Swaziland’s Sunday Editor Bingo Mbingo, SWABA President Benedict Bennett; Jive and Rumba, Lawyer Thandeka Hlabangani; Tango and Samba.

Others include Nomcebo Mbhamali from Swazi TV; Quick Step and Cha Cha, Pholile Maseko Swazi TV; Samba and Waltz, Zama Thabede Sports Council’s Finance Manager; Waltz and Rhumba, SBIS Ntombi Nkambule; Jive and Quick Step.

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