Modiselle puts amapiano dance into Guinness World Records
‘It is a proud moment for SA culture’
SA dancer and choreographer Bontle Modiselle is on cloud nine after taking amapiano dance movement into the Guinness World Records.
Modiselle made history when she received a certificate for the largest amapiano dance from Guinness World Records on Sunday. The certificate acknowledges the great work she did with her team that includes Alfa Kat, Tlhogi Molefi, Quintus Jansen and Kananelo Ngaleka teaching 252 people a dance move, synchronising it and performing it in an hour.
The performance, which was judged by the World Guinness Book of Records, took place in August at Hector Pieterson Memorial site in Orlando West, Soweto.
Speaking to SowetanLive after her win, Modiselle said she was proud to be the first person to put amapiano culture in world history books.
“Doing something scary like that is rewarding. It is a proud moment for SA dance culture, something great for amapiano movement and SA dance culture at large. It is important to make your mark and what a great way to make that statement.
“The winning feeling is mind-blowing and very encouraging. Once you set your mind on a goal and you achieve it there is that fulfilling feeling. I am grateful to God and I know this is one of those moments where I had to holistically let Him lead. Dance has come a long way from being regarded as a hobby to being taken serious as a profession.”
The choreographer, who owns her studio in Maboneng, Johannesburg, had two days to organise more than 250 people for the dance challenge. Modiselle said she was roped in to join the dance craze by Jensen from the World of Dance. As someone who is always looking for a challenge she said she jumped at the opportunity to make history.
“It was a nerve-wrecking moment knowing that I had to get those 250 to Orlando. The worst part was that the people had to be over 18, which was a bit difficult to find them. However, 266 turned out.
“The Guinness Book of Records judge who had flown from the UK was there. She watched the whole process of registration and when we started teaching. This was not rehearsed, we had to do it in that hour and get it right.
“We taught the routine and we started performing. And if you make mistakes you are disqualified. About 14 people made mistakes and they were disqualified. We had 252 people, which was more than the minimum required 250.”