On Sunday, November 27th, visitors to the park were certainly entertained by the display of colourful traditional costumes, foot stomping and the sound of drum beats, as 20 dance troupes vied for the 2016 uShaka Marine World Zulu Dance Championship titles!
All dance troupe finalists had the opportunity to perform their various dance styles, with many of them showing top class talent which resulted in much deliberation from the judges – Zimiphi Biyela (uKhozi FM); Brendon Meiring-Pollock (uShaka Marine World); Ndumiso Ndlovu (Dept of Arts & Culture); and Phila Myeni (Department of Arts & Culture).
At the end of this annual event presented by the Department of Arts & Culture, the judges chose four category winners, instead of just one.
Walking away with the trophies and a R5 000 cheque each, as well as a contract to work at uShaka Marine World, were the Umlazi African Jingle dance troupe who won in the uMzansi dance category; the Amazebra Dance Troupe winning in the Indlamu category; the Umsenti Cultural troupe winning the Ingoma category and lastly, walking away with the title in the Ushameni category were the Amabheka Okuhle Dance Troupe.
“Each year, this event is growing bigger and better, with more troupes auditioning. This means that as judges, we are having a more difficult decision to choose the best of the best to entertain the visitors to our park,” said Brendon Meiring-Pollock, the Events and Entertainment Manager at uShaka Marine World. “And that is a good thing,” he added with a smile.
