BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE – Eswatini’s rising dance stars have returned home with a renewed sense of purpose after making an impressive debut at the 2026 Dance World Cup Finals in Dublin, Ireland, proving that local talent can confidently compete on the world’s biggest dance stage.
Representing the Kingdom for the first time, Talent N’ Motion Academy showcased eight performances against some of the world’s finest young dancers, with every competitor scoring above 60 per cent despite limited training time compared to their international counterparts.
Academy founder Velile Dube hailed the team’s performance as a milestone for Eswatini’s dance industry.
“All the girls were first-timers, but they did exceptionally well. Every one of them scored above 60 percent,” she said.
The academy achieved scores ranging from 69.2 per cent to 79.9 per cent across six solo performances and two small-group routines. Leading the Eswatini contingent was Siphosethu Mlotsa, who earned 79.9 per cent to finish 15th in the Junior Solo Street Dance category.
Other strong performances came from Elihle Masinga, who scored 77.5 per cent to place 18th, while Nkosinemusa Gumedze and Kitso Makgeledisa each earned 77.1 per cent. Mukelwe Kunene followed with 75.9 per cent, while Wenziwe Mtshali scored 69.2 per cent in the Children’s Solo Ballet Repertoire category.
In the group events, the academy’s “Confident” routine secured 15th place with 74.2 per cent, while “Married Life” finished 20th after scoring 72.2 per cent.
Speaking during the competition in Dublin, Dube said the results were even more remarkable considering the disparity in training opportunities.
“Our children practise for only two hours a week, while many of the dancers we competed against train for as much as 17 hours every week,” she said.
She stressed that the academy’s vision goes beyond collecting medals.
“Our objective is not about medals. It is about building a dance culture, giving our children international exposure and helping them grow through experiences like this.”
Dube also noted that many international competitors travelled with their parents, who regularly invest in masterclasses with globally recognised dance instructors, highlighting the level of support and resources available in other countries.
The 2026 Dance World Cup attracted approximately 13 000 dancers from across the globe, making it one of the largest international dance competitions. Although Eswatini’s representatives were making their debut, their performances marked an encouraging step forward for the country’s growing dance movement and set the stage for even greater achievements in future editions.
(Courtesy Pic)
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