{"id":52360,"date":"2020-06-25T06:03:34","date_gmt":"2020-06-25T04:03:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/the-flame-crew-secures-top-spot-20200624-2\/"},"modified":"2020-06-25T06:03:34","modified_gmt":"2020-06-25T04:03:34","slug":"the-flame-crew-secures-top-spot-20200624-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/the-flame-crew-secures-top-spot-20200624-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Flame Crew secures top spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

FROM a small garage, The Flame Crew, a dance group from Humansdorp, have been working hard to hone their skills which they showcased on the Tshisa Lockdown Dance Challenge recently.<\/p>\n

They hope that their determination will inspire young people in the area to follow their dreams.<\/p>\n

With hard work and dedication, The Flame Crew was placed third in the dance challenge, a performing artist development programme which was started in Plettenberg Bay and launched earlier this month.<\/p>\n

Performances were judged by means of the quantity of the \u201clikes\u201d dance videos received on Facebook.<\/p>\n

\n Flame Crew<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

Eldine Jacobs founded the dance troupe in 2013 with a group of friends. While they pursued other interests, he remained dedicated. The initial group, Flame Boys, comprised five members.<\/p>\n

In 2017, the first female joined and the name changed to Flame Crew.<\/p>\n

Nathely Masoling, Jacob\u2019s dance partner, is a student at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein. She has been studying online since the Covid-19 lockdown started, which enabled them to keep practising in the garage of manager Louise Bakkes\u2019s property.<\/p>\n

Jacobs is also a dance tutor and teaches at Chantell Elevation Dance Academy in Jeffreys Bay occasionally. He says that when he started dancing at the age of 14, it was a way for him to express himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cDancing became a new language for me, which I was able to speak anywhere. Dancing means a lot to me, because I can\u2019t stop feeling a beat through my veins.\u201d.<\/p>\n

Despite his passion, Jacobs was often put down by people around him and forbidden to dance.<\/p>\n

He, however, never gave up on his dream and instead continued to practise on his own at home before starting his own dance crew.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I was practising at home, I was able to build up my courage and today I believe in myself,\u201d says Jacobs.<\/p>\n

One of his many highlights, as a dancer in the group, was when the Dance Crew made it to the semi-final top 21 at the SA Got Talent competition in 2017 and only needed 111 votes to go through to the final round.<\/p>\n

In 2017 and 2018, the Dance Crew came in first at the Shukuma Dance Festival.<\/p>\n

While participating in the Showville Talent Competition in 2018, the Dance Crew came first and won R10 000.<\/p>\n

Jacobs says he hopes to provide his hometown with exposure through his dancing. \u201cI want to be an inspiration for young people in my area so that I can motivate them to follow their dreams.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThere are many young people in the area who are interested in dancing.\u201d Occasionally Jacobs practises with them to help improve their dancing skills.<\/p>\n

\n Dream<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

Bakkes, who has been managing the Dance Crew since 2015, says there are many children in the area who enjoy dancing.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy biggest dream is to establish a dance and music school for teenagers to join and learn the skill of dancing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite Masoling having to go back to university once restrictions have been lifted, Bakkes believes that the Dance Crew will continue to work hard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will keep practising to build up our repertoire.\u201d<\/p>\n