Dance crew from Bonteheuwel aims to shift perceptions

There is more to life than the negatives in your community.

This is what the 021 Rebels (Rebels Dance Academy), dance crew from Bonteheuwel want to teach its students.

Wesley Bosch from the crew says they want to unearth new talent, have fun, but their mission is bigger.

“There are between 25 and 30 children between the ages of 10 and 19 that form part of the group. It is a programme that I am running out of my pocket. I was dancing for a long time around Cape Town, then I got the realisation that children from my community of Bonteheuwel never get the opportunities I had. When I started dancing I had to pay for classes and competitions, but the people around me could not afford it. I am doing this so that the children can get proper training which they otherwise would not be able to afford,” says Bosch.

These girls from 021 Rebels know what they are doing.

Solid foundation

He says he wants the students to have a solid foundation.

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“If they do eventually go overseas or dance professionaly, I want them to know what they are doing. They are taught the foundations of Hip Hop dancing, which is a positive dance. Dance can be the catalyst to change all the negatives into positives in this community, because it brings people together. Children who live in different areas controlled by different gangs find common ground when they dance together. I believe the dancing is having a positive impact because we are practising on a Friday and a Saturday when other children are busy doing other stuff,” says Bosch.

Variety of dances

They mostly teach Hip Hop dance, but focus on the street variety.

“We want to get the children off the streets with something that they love. This is the TikTok generation and they want to do things that are ‘in’ at the moment. I use that as a tool to get the youth to join. When they join they are more confident and have better self-esteem. Some come here as shy, but are now shining bright and that makes me happy. We do not take in anyone over 19 because there are other crews in the community for that age group. Sometimes students join other bigger groups in the area. Some go study further in dancing,” says Bosch.

Wesley Bosch (middle, front) with some of the 021 Rebels who recently performed really well at a competition.

He says even though it is sometimes tough, they will persevere.

• If you want to join the 021 Rebels, contact Bosch on 081 565 4950.