First WDSF Open in Lesotho 08/09/2017

A Report by Eva Bartunkova

The WDSF mission in Africa came up to another level. After the WDSF Competition in Gaborone, Botswana held in 2015, another breakthrough happened 2nd of September 2017 when the first WDSF Open was held in Maseru, a capital of the so called „Mountain Kingdom“, Lesotho.

After three years of a hard work under the supervision of the ambassador of DanceSport in Africa, Giovanni Chiapperini, the Federation of DanceSport of Lesotho managed to organize a first WDSF international event in a Mojalefa Lephole Convention Centre in Maseru.

The Secretary General of FEDALE, Teboho Rakhomo, the main organizer of the event, introduced a variety of DanceSport disciplines and categories such as group Zumba, team match Schools Standard and Latin, Junior and Juvenile Latin as well as the highest level Lesotho National Championships Ten Dance Juvenile, Junior and Adult and WDSF Open Adult Standard and Latin on the top. 

The competition was held under a support of Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission, visited by a number of honorary guests, Minister of Education and Training and President of the Lesotho National Olympic Committee and representative in a Women in Sport Commission of the ANOC included.

The judging panel of the WDSF Open event and Lesotho National Championships consisted of the chairperson Giovanni Chiapperini (Italy) and WDSF licenced adjudicators from various countries: Katarina Baluchova (Slovakia), Eva Bartunkova (Czech Republic), Marcel Keijzer (Netherlands) and two adjudicators from South Africa, Kevin Juul and Grant Baartzes.

The first afternoon part was attended by amazing number of 103 juvenile and junior competitors in 7 national competitions in total, the evening part covering the national championships and WDSF Open was attended by 25 couples from four countries: South Africa, Swaziland, Estonia and Lesotho.

During the day Mrs. Matlohang Moiloa-Ramoqopo, President of the Lesotho National Olympic Committee welcomed the WDSF officials and expressed her appreciation for the support given by WDSF to DanceSport Lesotho and improving the profile of Lesotho DanceSport championship as well as positioning the sport better in the continent. She applauded the effort made by WDSF by sending such a high delegation panel of judges which surely indicated that they are determined to raise the level of competition.

The evening part was open by a flag parade presenting WDSF in the front and all the participating countries. After the national anthem and a pray, a honorary guest, the Minister of Education and Training, acting also on behalf of the Minister of Sports, Hon. Mokhele Moletsabe  in his opening speech welcomed all participants: “It is a privilege and honour to officiate at this event where young people from Africa and Europe compete in dance.” Mr. Moletsabe underlined the fact that majority of competitors would be students and most of the clubs being at school level.

Winners of WDSF Open Standard, Dlamin Tjama and Maseatle Itumeleng from Lesotho in their interview expressed their great feelings: “We are very happy to win the biggest competition in the world and we are very proud we are now a part of WDSF.”

Rannar Erdovald and Mari-Liis Metsfrom Estonia, the winners of WDSF Open LAT did not cover their deep emotions: “For us it is a big pleasure and honour to be at this event. We enjoyed every moment of it and we had a lot of fun. The audience was great and we cannot be more thankful.”

The show performed by the professional couple from Italy, Marco Tocchini and Elisa Fabiani, finalists in World Ten Dance PD Championship 2016 made the event even more exclusive of a high sport value, entertaining for all the participants. Audience supported their performances with a big applause.

The president of FEDALE, Mr. Mobeli Nthjane thanked WDSF officials for coming and evaluated a great day by day job done by Teboho Rakhomo, the Secretary General of FEDALE and his full dedication to promoting and improving DanceSport in Lesotho.

As a part of the mission, a representation of WDSF, Giovanninni Chiapperini, Katarina Baluchova, Eva Bartunkova, Petr Bartunek accompanied by a Vice-President of FEDALE Teboho Rakhomo have made a frienship visite to Lesotho Sport and Recreation Center and to the Lesotho Olympic Commitee to discuss the development and possibilities of a support of DanceSport in Lesotho. During the competition Giovanni Chiapperini used the possibility for a friendly discussion with the Ministry of Education and Training which was concluded by auspicious plan for cooperation on the national and continental level.