Zimbabwe: A Zimdancer made his country proud by winning the gold medal in contemporary dance at the Havana Competition held in Cuba. The dancer Tanaka ‘Glitch’ Sakala hails from Gweru town in Zimbabwe.
Tanaka gave a dazzling performance that wowed the judges and earned him top honour in the highly competitive event, receiving praise from both at home and abroad.
On Saturday, the Gweru-born dancer ‘Glitch’ performed with dancers from around the world in the Havana Dance Competition.
In the thrilling performance, the dancer battled in face off against competitors from countries such as the United States, Canada, Russia, Mexico, Panama, Brazil, Romania, Italy, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, China and Belgium.
After battling with the participants from various nations, Sakala held the victory and won the gold medal. The dancer raised the country’s flag high and brought glory to his hometown and made history. He became the first ever Gweru dancer to win the prestigious competition.
Talking about his victory, Glitch said that the road to international acclaim was not a mere walk in the park as he faced financial hurdles. Tackling the difficulty, Zimdancer approached to the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
The ministry helped him with flight tickets and assistance in processing visa meals and accommodation. But above all, he thanked the almighty for making his dream come true.
Apart from financial challenges, Glitch’s family and friends were also concerned about his career and were not happy with his decision to pursue dance as a career.
He narrated, “I was a joke to my family and friends; they did not believe in me, but in 2023, I was recognised by an International Dance Organisation named IDO, and they were holding competitions in Mexico, but I failed to attend that due to financial constraints.”
Being not able to participate in the competition, the dancer was disappointed with his failure. He bowed down but an opportunity arose again when the Ballet Beyond Borders came.
Glitch said, “I was angry at everyone who did not believe in me because I knew I had the capacity to win. I auditioned for BBB online, competing against dance crews and solos as well as in the open category. I was the only one who got selected to represent Africa.”
Sakala, who hails from Mkoba, Gweru, has performed on different platforms, including the national Independence Day Commemorations and high performances in Gweru.
He also worked as a dance instructor in Harare and Gweru. As he seeks to empower the youth through dance and his skills.
He then entered the Global BBB Competitions organised by Charlene Carey from the United States of America in collaboration with Litz Alfonso Dance School in Cuba, who were also the sponsors of the contest.
There, he also submitted a three-minute essay clip of ‘Moving Words’, after which he got selected in the contemporary category of the dance competition.
Registration for the contest began on Jan 09, 2024, and proceeded with their rehearsals. Tanaka performed at the competition on Jan 10, 2024, and made history by winning the competition.
The opening ceremony of the contest was held at Marti Teatro Theatre. Numerous Dance Schools and Individuals entertained guests and participants. Over 4,000 people attended the session.