Children dance into a brighter future

THE hall of Silikamva High School Hout Bay was abuzz last weekend when the Amoyo Performing Arts Foundation held their mid-year display. Youngsters trained by the foundation keenly showed off their skills at dancing, drumming and acting.

Since last year Amoyo, a nonprofit organisation, has been teaching the children of Hout Bay performing arts ranging from African contemporary dance to hip hop; djembe drumming to drama.

Amoyo means “spirit of appreciation” (appreciating everything and everyone). The foundation was founded last March by voiceover artist and entrepreneur Kim Worrall with dance teachers Mandisa Qhesha and Nandioha Sandiana. They train junior dancers, teens, seniors and Amoyo core-group and offer after-school and holiday programmes of highquality dance, drama, music and performance classes..

Amoyo aims to provide youngsters in the area not only with performing arts skills but the positives that are a by- product of participating in such a theatre school programme – self-esteem, self-confidence, self-discipline and life skills for adulthood.

Just over a year later, Amoyo is making a difference in local communities.

”When you have parents thanking you regularly, you know the impact you are having on their children”, said Worrall.

The Amoyo performers have danced at public and corporate events. They performed at an international refugee day event and were featured on e.tv news.

Amoyo’s ambassador is Siphelele Mblashwa, an events management student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. She regards Amoyo as her second family and says they taught her love and respect and helped her to achieve her goals.

PICTURES: JASON BOUD Oranjekloof Moravian Primary pupils Siseko Nohtyolo (Grade 7) and Thobeka Shumi (Grade 5) show off their talent.

The children of the Amoyo Performing Arts Foundation in Hout Bay perform some of the set-pieces they have been working on this term at Silikamva High School Hall in Penzance, Hout Bay.