All talented amateur dancers welcome to come along and ‘move with melody’, united in hope
The City of Cape Town has officially launched an exciting dance competition to usher in the spirit of the 2025 Festive Lights Switch-On (FLSO) celebrations.
Dubbed Move with Melody, the competition aims to showcase the city’s vibrant and diverse talent while celebrating this year’s theme, United in Hope.
Kicking off today, Wednesday 1 October, the competition is open to amateur performers of all ages living in Cape Town and the greater metropole. Entries must consist of between two to 10 dancers per group.
JP Smith, Mayco member for Safety and Security, said the initiative is all about giving local talent a chance to shine.
“Cape Town has an abundance of young talent, and the Move with Melody competition is a platform to celebrate and elevate that creativity,” he said.
This is an opportunity for our young performers to shine, be recognised and bring their artistry to one of the biggest stages in the city.
Judging criteria
Entries will be assessed by an independent panel of creatives, including acclaimed dancers and choreographers Danny Jones and Jodie Jackson, along with local entertainer Lunga Tshuka.
Performances will be scored based on the following criteria:
- Creativity – 30%;
- Technical Skill – 25%;
- Stage Presence – 25%; and
- Relevance to the theme United in Hope – 20%
All styles of dance are welcomed, from amapiano and hip-hop to breakdance, gwara-gwara and more. Judges are encouraging performers to be imaginative and expressive, but remind participants that this is a family-friendly event, and all content must be age-appropriate.
How to enter
To take part, groups must upload a one-minute video of their performance to one of the following platforms:
TikTok
META (Facebook or Instagram)
WhatsApp (send to 076 179 7047)
Each submission must include the hashtag #FLSODance2025 and tag @CTFestiveLights.
The competition is strictly for amateur dancers. All entries must clearly reflect the theme United in Hope. The closing date for submissions is midnight on 9 November.
Finale at the V&A Waterfront
From the pool of entries, the top 10 finalists will be invited to compete in a live dance-off at the V&A Waterfront amphitheatre on Saturday 15 November. The public is invited to attend and support the finalists as they battle it out on stage.
Finalists must arrange their own transport to the venue.
The top three acts, as chosen by the judging panel, will receive the following cash prizes:
1st Place: R10 000;
2nd Place: R5 000; and
3rd Place: R2 500.
In addition, these winning teams will perform live on the main stage at the Festive Lights Switch-On event on 30 November, taking their place in front of thousands on the historic Grand Parade.
More information
Visit the City of Cape Town’s official website here for more details.
Social media:
Instagram: @CTFestiveLights
TikTok: @CTFestiveLights
X: @CTFestiveLights
Facebook: Cape Town Festive Lights
YouTube: Cape Town Festive Lights Switch-On
Hashtags: #CTFestiveLights #UnitedInHope #FLSODance2025
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