GEORGE NEWS - The dance troupe from Wupperthal that recently brought home a bag full of medals from the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, California, will be performing at the George Agricultural Show on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August.
Confirmation of Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers' appearance at the show was received with great excitement by the Outeniqua Show Society last week. "We are over the moon to be able to welcome them in our midst. They are adding an invaluable drawcard to our programme this year," said Susan Willemse, one of the main organisers of the show.
Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers collected their first gold medal at the very start of the championships by scooping up the Best Production 2015 Award in the Production Line Challenge during the grand opening celebrations in the Long Beach Performing Arts Centre. Floris Smith, the group's manager and coach, said, "Seven countries entered.
Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers entered a production of Riel Dance, Gumboot Dancing, Riel Tap and the five-piece band that led the dancers, all Proudly South African.
Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers won, with France taking silver and the Philippines bronze. This was the most amazing feeling and a great inspiration for what was to follow."
- l Gold in the Ethnic Folk Dance category with Riel dancing.
- l Finalist Award for being one out of three overall dance groups in the running for Grand Champion Dance Group of the World Award. They were also selected to perform at the gala event.
- l Gold in the Open Dance category with Riel Tap as well as the Division Winner Trophy for the Open category.
- l Gold in the Tap Dance category. Jobry Swart and Zarion Samson danced a tap duet and also won the Division Trophy Award in the Tap category.
- l Silver in the Open Dance category with Gumboot Dancing.
- l The band won three silver medals in the Instrumental Open category, Instrumental Jazz category, and Instrumental Original category as well as a bronze medal in the Instrumental Open Trio category.
- With his guitar solos, Efraum Kotze won two silver medals in the Instrumental Open category and Instrumental Original category as well as a bronze medal in the Instrumental Jazz category. Kotze also made it through to the semifinal round for the Grand Champion Instrumentalist Award in the Senior Category.
"It has been an experience of a lifetime and life changing for these kids. From Wupperthal to Hollywood; they fitted in right from the word go and they drew a lot of attention. A total of 62 countries were represented at the championships," said Smith.
Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers, a group of 10 dancers and six band members, are between the ages of 13 and 18. The oldest band member is 66 years old. Their main sponsors, Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and the Tollman family, made their overseas experience possible.
ARTICLE: ALIDA DE BEER, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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