The University of Limpopo (UL), in collaboration with the South African Gallery of Legends, recently paid homage to its alumnae Adv. Molatelo Mahapa for her illustrious international strides in the dance fraternity
Adv. Mahapa, who earned her BProc and LLB degrees from UL in 1996 and 1998, respectively, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the World DanceSport Federation’s Equality Commission, making her the first African to serve on the Equality Commission at the presidium level.
The two-part event – Dance Masterclass and Celebratory Banquet – was dubbed “From UL Dancefloor to the World” and marked Adv Mahapa’s homecoming as she plans to give back to the university’s dance sport through an annual dance masterclass.
She said it was a humbling experience because she discovered dance as a student at UL and had since taken it seriously. She held the masterclass at the Recreational Hall, the very same dancefloor where she mastered award-winning moves, to what she described as “complete nostalgia”.
While conducting Ballroom Dance, Latin, and Hip-Hop masterclasses, Adv Mahapa told the budding UL and community dancers, some of whom came from as far away as Lebowakgomo, that confidence and presentation are everything in the sport. “Most dancers lack the confidence required to perform at a championship level. A dancer must be very confident, have faith, and be passionate to become a high-performance athlete and compete on any stage in the world,” she explained.
The masterclass came at an opportune time for UL dance athletes as they prepared for the University Sports South Africa (USSA) from June 29 to July 3, 2022. The masterclass, according to the students, could not have come at a better time.
Lebone Maponya, a UL dancer and alumnus, admired her continental success.
“If she can climb that high on the dance ladder, it means I can as well. I learnt that dance does not end where we think it does; it can go above and beyond because as a dancer she had developed not only in the dancing part of life but also in the social and professional parts,” Maponya said.
Another enthusiastic dancer, Sebutsi Malatji, stated that the session mentally prepared the dancers and that they have now mastered the techniques and steps.
The Dance Masterclass culminated in a banquet at which Adv Mahapa received a certificate of appreciation from the university. Presenting the token, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication at UL, Victor Kgomoeswana, compared Adv Mahapa’s continental role to a South African footballer rising through the ranks to become a member of FIFA’s executive.
“That is how I can illustrate the importance of Adv Mahapa to the province of Limpopo, women empowerment, the University of Limpopo, Mankweng, and to South Africa,” he said, adding that not every university gets to see a former student reach the level of World DanceSport Federation.
Director of Sport and Recreation at UL, Kakata Maponyane, added: “We hope she will continue to visit UL to give masterclasses and motivate the dancers. The university will forever cherish legends like her.”
By Malatji Monyelegwete