The North-West University (NWU) Mahikeng Campus dancesport team has cemented its place among the leading university dance teams in South Africa after securing its third consecutive University Sports South Africa (USSA) Dancesport title.

The team defended its national crown during the 2026 USSA Dancesport Winter Tournament, which took place from 28 June to 3 July at the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State. The tournament featured 12 institutions and 16 teams competing in the Ballroom, Latin and Street Dance categories.

The NWU entered the competition as defending champions, carrying the expectation of maintaining the standard established since its first overall victory in 2024. The team competed across six categories that contributed to the final rankings: Opening Theme (Brazil Carnival), Ballroom sections, Latin sections, American Show Dance, Team Formation and Team Match.

The Mahikeng Campus team finished first overall after recording strong performances across the tournament categories. The NWU claimed the first position in Team Match and Team Formation, the second position in the Opening Theme category, and the third position in American Show Dance.

The performance of the team resulted in a collection of 48 gold, 21 silver and nine bronze trophies.

Dancesport coach Prince Motaung said the achievement reflects the dedication, preparation and teamwork that have shaped the success of the team.

“Winning the USSA Dancesport tournament for the third consecutive year shows the commitment of our students and the culture we have built in this team. Every dancer understood the responsibility that came with representing the NWU and defending this title,” said Prince.

He said the competition tested the ability of the team to perform consistently against other universities across different dance categories.

“This victory belongs to the entire team. It is not only about the trophies but about the growth of our dancers, the hours invested in preparation and ensuring that the NWU continues to compete at the highest level,” he added.

The 2026 victory confirms the dominance of the Mahikeng Campus dancesport team in university dancesport, with the team now crowned overall USSA champions for three consecutive years from 2024 to 2026.

Prince said the team will continue focusing on developing student dancers and maintaining the standards that have contributed to its success on the national stage.

The dancesport team on the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus securing its third consecutive USSA Dancesport title.