Thank you so much for your support this year. We celebrated a successful year of Dance that would not have been possible without your involvement. We thank you for being part of our incredible Dance Journey and stepping with a smile onto our Dance platforms. We look forward to another memorable year of great dancing. 2026 is going to be amazing!
We invite you to renew your membership and continue the journey with a progressive Dance Association affiliated to the World Dance Council.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we wish you a very joyous festive season and a Happy and Healthy 2026🥂
This correspondence serves as a follow-up on the Mr Phiri and company matter.
We note the comments made by Mr Phiri and company’s latest attack on the South African Dance Foundation and certain of its’ members personally and understand and acknowledge the impact it has on you.
It is not our intention to take any part in the mud- slinging contest fuelled by Mr Phiri and company. There are however a few facts and truths that need to be placed on record once and for all.
SADF operates in a non-profit company registered on the 18th September 1998 as Dance Sport South Africa (DSSA), by virtue of and in accordance with, a court order granted by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Johannesburg on the 16th October 2001, as the custodians of dance in South Africa.
FEDANSA was never known as DSSA. SADF changed its brand name from DSSA in 2007, whilst still retaining the name of DSSA on company documents.
SADF holds the registered trademark 2015/23082 in Class 41 for “DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIP” in relation to National Dancesport competition of Ballroom, Latin, Freestyle, Disco, Hip Hop, Wheelchair, Disabled, Traditional and Social dance style
SADF holds the registered trade mark 2015/23083 in Class 41 for “SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN DANCE CHAMPIONSHIP” in relation to ballroom, Latin American, hip hop, street dance, traditional dances, Pro-Am and social dances.
SADF brought an application for a final prohibitory interdict against Mr Phiri and his company to refrain from infringing on the afore-mentioned trademarks and to refrain from holding himself and his company out as the custodians of dance in South Africa, the application succeeded.
Mr Phiri and company brought an application for leave to appeal this order, it was dismissed with costs.
Mr Phiri is now petitioning the application that was dismissed, this petition is opposed and is still pending.
Mr Phiri’s company is a Pty Ltd, operating for profit and not an Association, not for gain.
SADF and its members have been defamed by Mr Phiri and company and are in the process of instituting legal action on the basis of defamation, injurious falsehoods and instigation.
SADF will also proceed to institute legal action on the basis of passing off for damages being suffered by SADF.
We advise our members not to fall prey to Mr Phiri’s correspondence. We will continue to protect our rights and the rights of dancers in a befitting manner and in the correct forums.
The South African Dance Foundation wishes to hereby announce to the South Africans in general and dancers/athletes in particular that the judgement handed down by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria on 25TH of January 2022 regarding the status of Dance and DanceSport in South Africa is upheld by the same court. The Application for Leave to Appeal from “DSSA” was dismissed with costs on 24TH June 2022. This means that “Dancesport” is not allowed to take the Application on Appeal, as the learned Judge considered there to be no prospects that another Court will come to a different conclusion, should the matter be taken on appeal. Therefore, the prayers granted in favour of the South African Dance Foundation on 25THJanuary 2022 stand, that:
The First Respondent (Thabo Phiri) and Second Respondent (DSSA) shall refrain from using the name DanceSport South Africa (DSSA).
The First and Second Respondents shall refrain from presenting themselves as the custodians of dance in South Africa under the name DSSA.
The First and Second Respondents shall refrain from organizing any Dance Competition or Championship at Provincial or National level with respect to the genres Ballroom, Latin, Freestyle, Disco, Hip Hop, Wheelchair or Disabled, Traditional, Social Dance style under the name DSSA.
The South African Dance Foundation is humbled by the judgement as it is viewed as a force for the unity of Dance as an Artform and Sport under one umbrella. South Africans can therefore be assured that this aim is not intended to divide the dancers/athletes, but to bring about a true transformation agenda. While the SADF strives for unity in Dance, we need to at all times comply with relevant laws and court orders.
Our goal remains the same since the first judgement of 2000, which is to administer, develop and promote dance as an art and sport in South Africa and to regulate all matters of dance under one umbrella. As such, the South African Dance Foundation will be meeting and talking to all dancers, all dance organisations, all dance supporters and sponsors to unify Dance on a national level. We extend a warm welcome to all the Dance Associations to join our progressive Dance Association.
The judgment is annexed hereto for ease of reference.
On behalf of the South African Dance Foundation Board of Directors:
To ALL our Members and Friends across the World, we send you Season's Greetings and wish you ALL a Happy and Peaceful 2022. We look forward to seeing you all again soon. Happy Dancing!!!!
Our exciting Newsletter for 2020, 20NiceThings is ready for you and attests to the busyness of SA Dance during lockdown. We reflect on our achievements supported by a fully fledged Digital journey empowering us to forge ahead. Our Studios have soft opened and are slowly but surely returning to a better normal. Our flag ship Rumba in The Jungle was cancelled, but we are happy to report that our documentary, Rumba in the Jungle, The Return, screened at the Encounters International Film Festival recently.
Thank you SA Dance Community for being part of this unforgettable Dance Journey. We look forward to the safe return of Dance and will keep you posted on the fabulous events we have lined up for you.
A special note of appreciation to Tebogo Tsholetsana for compiling the fabulous Newsletter with many Nice Things.
Thank you so much for your support this year. We celebrated a successful year of dance that would not have been possible without your involvement. We thank you for being part of our incredible Dance Journey and stepping with a smile onto our dance platforms. We look forward to another memorable year of great dancing. 2020 is going to be amazing! PS: Our offices are closed from 23 December to 3 January 2020 for our festive break. We wish you and your family a wonderful Xmas and festive season filled with love and happiness!
On behalf of the Board Directors, I extend sincere appreciation to each and every one of you for your support in 2019. We celebrated a successful year of dance that would not have been possible without your involvement. We thank you so much for your support and being part of Our Incredible Dance Journey. We look forward to another memorable year of great dancing in the spirit of Freedom to Dance.
This email serves as a friendly to renew your SADF membership for 2020 by 31 December 2019. Thank you to all the members who renewed their registration already. If you are not presently a SADF member, we warmly invite you to become part of a progressive Association with international affiliation to the World Dance Council, World Dance Council Amateur League and Freedom to Dance. We are very happy to report that the SA licences increase by CPI only. There are no increases to WDC License fees for 2020. I encourage you to review the Communique from Mr. Andre Cloete, Director of Membership, highlighting our achievements for 2019. We invite you to register to enjoy the benefits the SADF offers.
Our first Newsletter acknowledges the contributions from our extended Supporters, friends in Dance and Members. We reflect on our successes for 2018 and extend appreciation to everyone who participated in the journey. Our 2019 calendar is underway and we have a jam packed year ahead. Our First Super Series is scheduled for 27 April in Gauteng. Our Flight Partner is really coming to the party with 2 flight sponsorships for registered members. Be sure to register, compete in the Super Series and you could stand to benefit majorly from this. Another highlight is the SummerDance camps in July. Be sure to contact Clint Borez if you would like to participate in this amazing development opportunity.
Dear Dance Community
On behalf of the Board Directors, I extend warm thanks to each and every one of you for your support in 2018. We celebrated a successful year of dance that would not have been possible without your continued support. We thank you so much for your involvement and being part of Our Incredible Dance Journey. We look forward to another memorable year of great dancing in the spirit of Freedom to Dance.
This email serves as a friendly to renew your SADF membership for 2019 by 31 December 2018. Thank you to all the members who renewed their registration already. If you are not presently a SADF member, we warmly invite you to become part of a progressive Association with international affiliation to the World Dance Council, World Dance Council Amateur League and Freedom to Dance. 2019 promises to be the year where we surpass the successes of 2018 and take dance to the next level. We are very happy to report that there is no CPI increase for local SA Licenses for 2019. Members with WDC Licenses (Adjudicators and Competitors) to please note that the WDC License fee has increased for 2019 (Refer to SADF Tariffs 2019).
Kindly review the Communique from Mr. Andre Cloete highlighting our achievements for 2018. We are pleased to announce an amazing opportunity for two Amateur Dancers to win air tickets sponsored by our Travel Partner, Statravel, to the WDC AL World Championships in 2019. You are encouraged to register to enjoy the benefits the SADF offers.
[pdf-embedder url="http://sadancefoundation.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SADF-Membership-2019-Communique.pdf" title="SADF Membership 2019 Communique"]
Kind regards
SADF Chief Executive Officer
Marion Baxter
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