South Africa's very own 16-year-old breakdancer, Lakeisha Dick from Cape Town, has been chosen to represent the country at the world finals of the prestigious Red Bull BC One competition in Paris. Joining her is 27-year-old breakdancer Toufeeq Baatjie, also from Cape Town.
Red Bull BC One is a global one-on-one breaking competition that attracts over a thousand breakers from around the world. Participants compete in their respective countries for a chance to qualify for the world finals.
Lakeisha discovered her passion for dancing at the age of 8, inspired by movies like Step Up and encouraged by her mother. Dancing keeps her motivated and focused, serving as a source of joy in her life. Despite coming from a challenging neighborhood, Lakeisha dedicates around 3 hours a day to training when preparing for competitions. Notably, she is the youngest girl to have won the competition in South Africa.
In an interview with The South African, Lakeisha shared her journey as a dancer and her decision to pursue breakdancing. She explained, "I started dancing because I was intrigued by and amazed by the difficulty of this genre of dance. Watching all those dancers on TV and seeing their facial expressions made me love breaking from the very beginning. I felt a connection with this dance, and I feel free when I dance. I am extremely vulnerable when I am dancing, and it shows."
Lakeisha expressed her motivation for participating in the Red Bull BC One competition, aiming to experience dancing at an elite level and competing against the best breakdancers in the world. She saw it as an opportunity to showcase her talent, represent South Africa in Paris, and acknowledge the payoff of her dedication and hard work.
She highlighted some of the challenges faced by breakdancers, including limited access to training facilities and the risk of injuries that can affect performance. Lakeisha emphasized the importance of the breakdancing community returning to its roots and promoting cyphers (informal dance circles) where dancers can support and help each other improve on a professional level, similar to practices overseas.
Lakeisha's journey and participation in the Red Bull BC One competition serve as an inspiration to aspiring dancers in South Africa, demonstrating the potential for success and recognition on a global stage.
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