Gia Oliver, a Maties Ballroom and Latin Dance Society dancer from team Dagbreek, dances with Seth Scott, the Prim of Metanoia Residence, at the Dancing in Style 2026 event. PHOTO: Supplied/Adam Kent
Feet got loose at Academia Hall last week at Dancing in Style. Hosted by the Maties Ballroom and Latin Dance Society (MBLDS), the event made a comeback to showcase that, with a little faith, a positive attitude and eight weeks of intense training, anyone can dance.
“Dancing in Style is inspired by shows like Strictly Come Dancing; we just applied it to the Stellies ecosystem,” said Sebastiaan Whitward, a member of the planning committee and co-host of the event. The event first started in 2018, but was short-lived due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “After that, it kind of got lost in the abyss,” said Whitward. When this year’s planning committee heard the idea, they agreed it had to be brought back.
The “stars” chosen to compete were “campus big shots” as Whitward calls them, including prims, vice prims, lecturers and Student Representative Council (SRC) members from Stellenbosch University (SU). This year’s line-up included nine student leaders and three lecturers from the genetics, economics and forestry departments.
Each “star” got coupled up with an experienced dancer at MBLDS, and spent the next two months training with their partner and designated instructor.
All the training culminated in an event that included a showcase performance, a competition round with three different dance styles, and a free-for-all sokkie competition.
Danica Capazorio, a chemical engineer, and Adam Kent, a fourth-year BSc (Computer Science) student at Stellenbosch University, won the sokkie competition. The pair took home enough caffeine to finish a masters thesis, with the pack of energy drinks supplied by Red Bull, one of the event’s sponsors. PHOTO: Supplied/MBLDS
The showcase performance was an opportunity for the pairs to “display their creativity and chemistry,” said Whitward. The couples could choose to partner up with other pairs, select their own music, costume design and theme.
Then, with backs straight, elbows high, heads facing forward and big smiles, the 12 pairs took to the floor to perform the waltz, boogie and cha-cha. The judging panel, which included guest judge and acting Dean of Students Dr Leslie Van Rooi, watched on as the dancers performed.
“We underestimated it so much,” said Whitward. “The stars were ruthless, extravagant, majestical, rhythmic, competitive, spirited and most of all, so committed.”
The dancing seemed to be contagious, and when the music kept rolling between rounds, spectators, presenters, and those performing kept the floor alive with all sorts of moves. “It was so wholesome to see dancing bring so many people together,” said Kate Weir, a spectator and member of MBLDS.
Out of the 12 couples, only six were selected to compete in the final round. After they performed for the last time, the judges deliberated and the results were in.
The Dancing in Style 2026 winners were Chloe Farinha, the former primaria of Olympus, and Rowan Mentoor, a 20-year-old dancer at MBLDS.
Chloe Farinha and Rowan Mentoor donned big grins after their Dancing in Style 2026 win was announced. The pair took home a giant disco ball trophy, other sponsored prizes including Moody Blues and My Brew vouchers, and some serious bragging rights. PHOTO: Supplied/Sebastiaan Whitward
Farinha said that the experience ignited a love for dancing she thought she had lost in her childhood. “The journey went far beyond just preparing for a performance. It was such a transformative experience. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to experience something completely new with absolute confidence,” she said.
“It taught me so much about myself, and I have Rowan to thank for a lot of that.”
“I was so overjoyed that a tear might have slipped, ” said Mentoor, her partner, after he realised they had won. With a minor mistake in the first round, and such tough competition, Mentoor was not sure the pair would make it to the finals.
When they were announced as the final pair to make it through, both Mentoor and Farinha agreed to just have fun with it. Looking back, “I would not choose to do the event with anyone besides her,” said Mentoor.
