Many thanks for your support of the spectacular South African Open Dance Championships™. It was heartwarming to see so many dancers from Botswana, Free State, Germany (representing Slovakia), Kwazulu Natal, Lesotho, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, United Kingdom, Western Cape and Gauteng - 51 Dance Studios in total braved the Ballroom. This clearly marks a significant achievement for an Open to the World Dancesport Championships.
Thank you so much for your positive feedback and insights shared with all the excitement on Social Media. Dancesport Committee sincerely appreciate all the feedback received.
Congratulations to each and every dancer who participated - you are all warriors for showing up. The Full Program of Events is attached for your records: South African Open Dance Championships™ Programme
We encourage you to register with the South African Dance Foundation for 2023. We are progressive and remain the Official and Founder member of the World Dance Council and WDC Amateur League. Please engage the Director of Membership, Andre Cloete, at andre.cloete1@gmail.com for Membership information.
We thank you greatly for your suport this year and for being part of our incredible dance journey. We look forward to a bumper 2023 with many memorable events.
We are absolutely delighted to socialise our Calendar of Events for 2023, jampacked with a plethora of competitions and inclusive of our mother body, the World Dance Council events.
Despite a tumultuous 2022, we are immensely pleased to have successfully hosted an all inclusive Open to the World South African Championships™ (SAODC™), Rumba in the Jungle™ (Digital and Onsite) International Festival, 4 Super Series, Cup Competitions and multiple Festivals. We proudly acknowledge the couples who were awarded South African Colours. We celebrate the success of our dancers who competed internationally and plan to extend the SA representatives for 2023. We sincerely appreciate the sponsorship from HeartSoles Foundation awarded to many dancers from across South Africa and our neighbouring countries. These achievements are the result of collaboration with our Partners and your much valued support.
We are excited to reinstate our annual events at their usual dates and are pleased to announce that we have remained consistent with dates. You are warmly invited to be part of our 2023 Dance Journey to enjoy the above mentioned benefits.
Kindly note that the full suite of WDC Title events will be updated to the Calendar as soon as they become available. We will share an official update on Rumba in the Jungle™ separately.
As a caring Foundation, it is our goal to unify Dance by creating a Fully inclusive platform that is Open to ALL Associations, ALL Dancers, ALL Dance Styles. We encourage you to renew your annual SADF membership and join our progressive Dance Association. The registration date is extended to 31 January 2023. Only members registered by the deadline are eligible to officiate the first half of the year in sanctioned events. The 2023 Tariffs and Registration forms are also accessible via the website. Kindly contact the Director of Membership, Mr Andre Cloete for any membership queries.
We look forward to engaging with you at our exciting events. Sending you DANCE LOVE for 2023!!!
The Official SA Title Event, South African Open Championships™ is happening at a fabulous entertainment venue, Silverstar Casino on 10-11 December 2022.
We are super excited to announce that the prestigeous SA Championships is fast approaching and is OPEN to ALL Dance Associations, ALL Dancers,.
Be sure not to miss this fantastic Dancesport Championship and prepare for a fiery hot experience! Practice hard in preparation for this fabulous event.
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.
The Technical Committee has refreshed the Rules for SADF Professional Teachers Qualifications. Information about the changes will be socialized on various platforms. The Rules are available for your awareness.
Thank you all so much for your awesome support of Freedom Day Dancesport Championships™. The results says it all and we thank you sincerely for being part of the FIRST Super Series for 2022, WDC recognized. Congratulations to all the dancers who participated, you are our Freedom Day Stars!
WC Coastal Super Series Dancesport Championships™ is happening at the majestic GRANDWEST on 25 June 2022. This Super Series is the Second Qualifier for South African Colours and is WDC recognised. WCCSS is Open to ALL Associations, ALL Genres, ALL Dancers. Dancers brace yourself for this unforgettable, dance experience at Cape Town’s largest entertainment destination. The strict entry closing date is 4 June 2022 and no late entries will be allowed for planning and compliance reasons.
ENTRY FORMS are ready for Human Rights Festival at the Italian Club on 26 March 2022!!! We are super excited to announce the annual cultural celebration of Dance is back Onsite and FULLY Covid-19 compliant. You are warmly invited to the commemoration of our cultural heritage and the celebration of our democracy. Please note that the hosting of the Championship is subject to the South African Government Laws instituted at the time of the event. The strict Entry closing date is 11 March 2022 for planning and compliance reasons. Please contact Claudeo Adams for more information at claudeoadams.sadfwc@gmail.com.
We are absolutely delighted to socialise our Calendar of Events for 2022, jampacked with a plethora of competitions and inclusive of our mother body, the World Dance Council events. Having persevered through all 4 waves of the Pandemic, we are excited to reinstate our annual events at their usual dates, as we recover our beloved Dance and Dancesport.
Building on the success of the South African Championships™ (SAODC™) in 2021, we are happy to report that all Super Series are back i.e. GP, WC and NW and we are pleased to announce that the KZN Super Series is on the Roadmap for July 2022. South African Colours will be fully reinstated, and we will clarify the criteria separately. All our Trademarked competitions i.e. SAODC™, RITJ™ and Dancesport Championships™ are on the Calendar of Events. It sure is going to be a busy year and we encourage you to plan proactively to participate in the 2022 Dance journey.
Kindly note that the events are influenced by the Covid-19 status quo, and we will keep you updated on any changes. We endeavour to continue hosting a safe dance platform with all Covid-19 protocols in place.
As a caring Foundation, it is our goal to unify Dance by creating a Fully inclusive platform that is Open to ALL Associations, ALL Dancers, ALL Dance Styles. We encourage you to renew your annual SADF membership and join our progressive Dance Association. The registration date is extended to 31 January 2022. Only members registered by the deadline are eligible to officiate the first half of the year in sanctioned events. The 2022 Tariffs and Registration forms are also accessible via the website. Kindly contact the Director of Membership, Mr Andre Cloete for any membership queries.
We look forward to engaging with you at our exciting events. Sending you all DANCE LOVE for 2022.
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