The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mathlogonolo Bodibe’s fancy footwork and passion for dance recently took her to the international stage.

Mathlogonolo, a second-year BA communication student, participated in the annual DanceStar World Dance Masters competition that took place from 20 to 26 May in Croatia

Her dedication paid off and she achieved notable placements: she came seventh out of 20 competitors in the solo category and was third in the open formation category.

The DanceStar World Dance Masters is an elite dance competition featuring more than 7 000 dancers from around the globe. For one week, participants engage in an array of activities, including dance seminars led by world-renowned pedagogues, dance competitions, freestyle battles, gala shows, and beach dance parties. All events are conveniently held within a single large area encompassing hotels, event halls and stages.

To earn her spot at this global event, she had to first compete in the DanceStar Qualifiers held in Pretoria in November 2023. She successfully qualified and was selected to perform a commercial solo, participate in a group, and to join a formation.

Matlhogonolo says participating in the DanceStar World competition was phenomenal. “It was a thrilling and life-changing experience – all the dancers gave it their best, propelled by each other's encouragement and the cheers of the audience."

She says the competition was not just about performing, but was also a rich cultural exchange. "It was a vibrant multicultural event that helped me develop friendships and a greater understanding of dance's international language. It also left a lasting impression and contributed to my development as a dancer. It was honestly such a wonderful experience, and I would do it again in a heartbeat."

Before the DanceStar World Dance Masters competition Matlhogonolo and her dance partner also raked in the awards at a South African Dance Foundation Federation competition that took place at Woodlands International College in Gauteng on 17 April 2024. They took first place in the Youth Gold Ballroom, the Youth Rising Star and Youth Champ Latin sections.

Matlhogonolo Bodibe performs at the DanceStar Qualifiers in South Africa.