A talented 16-year-old Retreat girl needs help to compete at a Latin dance event in France and Italy in December.
Zulpha Bird, who is in Grade 11 at Crestway Senior Secondary School, started dancing when she was five and is a Western Province dancer.
A few months ago, Dancesport United informed Zulpha and her partner, Aden Booysen, that they’ve been selec-
ted to represent SA at the Open World Championships of the World Dance Council Amateur League, to be held at Disneyland, Paris from 6-9 December; and the Naples Open in Italy from 12-16 December.
President of Dancesport United, Hilton Moore, said the organisation is proud of the dancers and confident they have the ability to achieve greatness in the competitions.
Zulpha, who does the rumba, salsa, cha cha and tango, says she is looking forward to just dancing.
She said: “I have always wanted to dance. I had to take a break in 2017 because of financial difficulties, but I want this really badly. [Dance] is all I want to do.”
Her mother, Jasmine Abdul, says of the
R26k each partner need, she and her family, with the help of the community and Zulpha’s coach, Maxi Sauls, have been able to raise R7 000 to date.
“We do raffles and disco functions at the local hall. Coach Maxi bakes cupcakes and we also sell biscuits,” she says.
“Last year she was unable to compete and everything slipped. It was like she was becoming a different person from the well-mannered and disciplined dancer she had been.”
Anyone wanting to make a contribution to Zulpha and Aden ’s trip, can contact Jasmine on 073 772 2038.