Put your best foot forward

As from November 28 to December 8, locals and visitors to Swakopmund will have the opportunity to put on their dancing shoes and learn, maybe for the first time, to do the tango, jazz, ballet, ballroom, hip-hop or even belly dancing!

‘Dance Week’s’ Imke Kuntsch, said everyone is welcome, from beginner to advance, and from as young as three years – anyone who has a love to dance can participate in this ‘boot-camp’ for dancing; a first of its kind at the coast.A group of four local dance instructors (all qualified in several styles), Sonja Celotto, Carmen Bertens, Kim Garny and Imke Kuntsch, decided to provide a platform on which local talent and first-timers will have the opportunity to develop their passion for dance.’We are hoping that this event will become annual, so that eventually people from all over Namibia will come and consequently make Swakopmund not only Namibia’s tourism mecca, but also the venue for dance,’ said Kuntsch. ‘And what better time to learn than now, at the doorstep of the festive season?’Bertens explained that those wanting to participate will have to identify the style (or two) they would like to master during the week, and this would be the style they will be trained in. The classes will be held at the SFC Sports Club or the Swakopmund Reiterverrein (stables) everyday, and according to Bertens, every day will devote an hour to every specific style.There will also be a ‘grand finale’ on the closing night where the dance week participants will strut their stuff at a dinner dance on December 8 at the Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre. According to Kuntsch, tickets will cost N$150, which includes a dazzling night filled with dance, music, good food and socialising. The highlight of this event will be the demonstration of those that participated in dance week along with their professional instructors.’Those who could never have danced before, will, after ‘Dance Week’, be able to dance very comfortably,’ Kuntsch assured.For more information, feel free to contact any of the instructors at dance.week@yahoo.com, 064 – 405747, 081 233 3736 or 081 4323247.