East London’s Sade Cassels is on a mission to prove to her community that one can have a career as a dancer.
Cassels, 20, said she first become interested in dancing when she was still in school.
“I had my own dance group at school, we used to perform at functions and modelling shows,” she said.
However, it wasn’t until she was 18 that she decided to pursue dancing as a career.
“As a teenager, parents are always telling you that you need to work, that you need to become a lawyer or a doctor. But there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be a dancer,” she said.
For Cassels, one of her driving motivations is proving to her community that dancing can be more than just a hobby.
“A lot of people think that with dancing, there’s no way forward,” Cassels said.
“I think dancing can build a foundation for a career.”
The next step in her journey was supposed to be a trip to New York in the US in June, but that has been pushed to January next year due to the ongoing pandemic.
During her overseas trip, Cassels was set to perform some of her work while also networking with US-based producers and directors.
It was, she said, “a huge opportunity”.
While the trip has been delayed, Cassels is still working on raising the R100,000 she needs to make the trip a reality.
“I’ve struggled to find sponsors during the lockdown.
“I’ve tried fundraising but it’s gone very slow,” she said, adding she would not give up.
Anyone who would like to donate towards Cassels’ trip to New York, or find out more information, can contact her on Facebook or at 064-190-3582.
