THEIR story reads like a page out of a fairy tale, but the reality is there’s nothing fantastical about their journey towards a happily ever after.
The Dance Movement Troupe, headed by the award-winning choreographer Jarryd Watson, hail from communities that are often bogged down by a host of social issues.
But these youngsters, mainly from Wentworth, Sydenham and the Bluff, have overcome much with the help of Watson and will soon stage their own original production at The Playhouse Drama Theatre.
Dance Movement Troupe is five years old, having first started as an avenue for disadvantaged youth from Wentworth to be trained in dance and get professional exposure.
To date they have a list of accolades under their belt, including walking off with 12 trophies from the United Dance Organisation (UDO) World Street Dance Championships last year in the UK.
They have also thrilled audiences during performances on the Jomba! Dance Festival stage, where Watson also walked off with the inaugural Eric Shabalala Dance Champion Award.
The award acknowledges he recipient’s contribution to developing dance and training and education in dance in a challenging environment – where the recipients have dedicated themselves to this despite, for example, having little or no funding.
From community halls to the mainstream, Watson and the Troupe can now be seen in Rhythm, a dance drama put together by Watson and fellow choreographers Preston Kyd, Natasha Hooman and Liesl de Lange.
“We now have the opportunity to do our own show on a professional platform like The Playhouse.
“It has been a big challenge to put together the show, which will include a mix of dance forms such as hip hop, break dance and contemporary dance and some acting.
“So it will showcase all the troupe’s skills. The stories told in the piece are about how these young dancers have emerged onto the professional dance platform, overcoming different challenges,” explained Watson.
Five years is a major survival milestone for a small company in a field of the arts that is constantly burdened by a lack of funding. But Watson said pushing on is important for matters that stretch beyond what is staged.
“The arts exposes the kids to things that are beyond Wentworth or Sydenham, for example.
“It gives them knowledge of the world that is available to them out there, the different opportunities they have in life.
“It also gives them a sense of confidence and motivation to succeed in anything in life, like studying further [after school],” said Watson.
With a cast aged seven to 18 years old, Rhythm will be performed to a host of popular hit songs like those from the hit Step Up soundtrack, American singing sensation Usher and more.
Watson said he’s longed to put on a production like this for some time and promises that the show will be an original and different experience of dance.
Aiming to challenge stereotypes and show the broader community who they really are and what they’ve achieved through much hard work, the Dance Movement Troupe will stage Rhythm on November 3 at 2.30pm and 7pm at the Playhouse Drama.
• Tickets cost R90 at Computicket. With only two shows, early booking is advised.