THE World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood took place recently. The annual event is referred to as “The Talent Olympics” and is the only one of its kind in the world.
The 90-strong South African team that competed between July 11 and 18 returned home having scooped the lion’s share of medals and scholarships. And young performer Jemma van Breda made her home town, Durban, and the rest of South Africa proud by winning gold for her Bollywood solo and Bollywood duet with Emmitt Cawley.
In 2013, Van Breda, then aged just 14, competed in the South African Indian Film Awards (Saiftas) at a time when she was taught by choreographer Geeta Kapoor. And now the young beauty has another accolade to her name. With regards to her her Bollywood solo at the WCOPA, Evashnee Pillay of Crawford North Coast choreographed Van Breda’s dance.
The team that competed in the fields of drama, dance, vocal, instrumental, modelling and variety arts, won a total of 158 gold medals, 142 silver medals, 79 bronze medals, 29 showcase medals, 83 overall winner trophy awards, 24 scholarships to the Millennium Dance Complex, seven scholarships to the New York Film Academy, two scholarships to the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts School of Film and Television and three Grand Champion Awards.
In addition, 16 team members were presented with Industry Awards, which are acknowledgements from industry professionals that the contestants have the talent to excel in the performing arts industry.
South African Championships of Performing Arts Director, Dr Ellen Roux (from Pretoria), was presented with an award from the South African Consulate in Los Angeles, for bringing the biggest team to the event. She commented: “I have had the South African Championships of Performing Arts license for 18 of the 19 years that the world event has been held and it gives me great pleasure to watch young performers excel in the international performing arena.”
The overall senior winners for acting included Britt Reis (Joburg) and Tayla Owen Jones (Joburg). For dance: Chace and Ashley, (East London) Emmitt Cawley, Jemma van Breda, (Durban), Edge (Durban), Azusiswe Mini (East London), Beatbreakerz and Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers JZ Tap (Cape Town). Instrumental: Celina Klintscher (Cape Town), modelling was Donnaley Avis (Joburg) and vocals were Gina Tanzer (Cape Town, Somerset West) and Van Breda (Durban).
In terms of the arts competition, contestants have to qualify in regional and national competitions in their respective countries and only gold medallists are eligible to compete in the World Championships. Selections were held in the US, Canada, Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and South Africa and the level of talent was extremely high. – Information supplied by World Championships of Performing Arts: www.wcopa.com
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• To enter South African Championships of Performing Arts for a chance to represent South Africa in Hollywood next year, go to www.beyond2000.co.za.