{"id":183458,"date":"2018-08-01T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-01T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/183458\/xene-freestyles-to-world-championships\/"},"modified":"2018-08-01T12:26:19","modified_gmt":"2018-08-01T10:26:19","slug":"xene-freestyles-to-world-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2018\/08\/01\/xene-freestyles-to-world-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"Xen\u00e8 freestyles to world championships"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over a year ago, at her first World Freestyle Dance Championships, Xen\u00e8 Fowlds was placed third in the u-14 slow dance category.<\/p>\n

Thrilled to have won third place as a first-time contestant, a seed was planted in her mind that she was capable of taking gold the following year.<\/p>

<\/div>\n

This year Xen\u00e8 recently travelled to the United Kingdom again with the hope of clinching the title.<\/p>\n

The championships returned to the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, where Xen\u00e8 was crowned World Freestyle Dance Champion in the u-16 slow dance category.<\/p>

<\/div>\n

However, the title did not come easy for the Dawnview dancer.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Dawnview resident Xen\u00e8 Fowlds in action at the World Freestyle Dance Championships held recently in the United Kingdom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0Xyle<\/b>\u00a0to set new fashion trends in Germiston\u00a0<\/a><\/h4>\n

\u201cEveryone who prepares for world championships wants to return home with the title.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dance teacher, Keziah van Vreden, moulded me into the dancer that I am today.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe took first place in the freestyle slow dance and freestyle solo categories when she entered the world championships,\u201d said Xen\u00e8.<\/p>\n

The Dance Rush International student and her teacher began an intense championship training programme to ensure that they were ready for the main event.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you set a goal, you have to work hard to achieve it because your competition is working just as hard if not harder,\u201d said Xen\u00e8.<\/p>\n

Every heat had about 10 dancers at a time and in total Xen\u00e8 was amongst 120 girls who had to impress the judges.<\/p>\n

This year Xen\u00e8 danced in the u-16 category which she described as a tough division.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe u-16 category generally includes dancers between the ages of 14 and 16.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was the \u2018baby\u2019 in the group this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI cannot describe how talented those girls are.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember telling Keziah that perhaps I wasn\u2019t ready and with more training, I would only be a strong contestant next year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

By using her space on the stage and engaging with the audience, Xen\u00e8 progressed to the finals.<\/p>\n

She said she further used her face a lot in the heat to communicate with the judges and show them she had the X-factor that they kept asking for.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I stepped out onto the floor for my final slow dance, an amazing thing happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is me by The Greatest Showman burst through the speakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cA song I constantly played at home and at the studio,\u201d said Xen\u00e8.<\/p>\n

\u201cI found courage and calmness in this song and there it was playing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI gave my all on that stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust hearing the words, \u2018I am who I\u2019m meant to be, this is me.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew something great was going to happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd now I am a world champion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Xen\u00e8 Fowlds\u2019 dreams came true when she was crowned champion in the u-16 slow dance category at the World Freestyle Dance Championships held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool in the United Kingdom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0Trallavelle to launch new music video<\/a><\/h4>\n

Returning home with the title was enough to help Xen\u00e8 forget about the bruises and long hours of training she had endured.<\/p>\n

\u201cA week before leaving for the UK my feet were bruised, I had danced until I was numb.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in the studio practising for two and a half hours every weekday and on weekends.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeziah really pushed me to greatness and I am grateful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to Steve Noall and David Jones who helped with the choreography.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo Sadie van Vreden, thank you for your input and advice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Chrisna Scott for the amazing outfits.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo my family and all my sponsors who supported me and made this trip possible, I cannot thank you enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next year Xen\u00e8 aims to take first place in both the freestyle slow dance category and in the freestyle solo category where she placed fifth this year.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Xen\u00e8 Fowlds took first place in the u-16 slow dance category at the World Freestyle Dance Championships.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n

Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n

Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n