Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers rieldans group reign supreme - Q and A + fast facts

Two members of the Rieldans group and I.

I see live acts all the time but wow, these Northern Cape-based rieldansers really stand out and fascinate me. They're unique. Their entire performance, ticks all the boxes of what a captivating and energetic indigenous live act should be like. Adding tap dancing to their art  has given their performance a different twist to it.

Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers rieldans group, as they are popularly known as wowed audience members on the opening night of the Baxter Theatre Dance Festival recently. They received a standing ovation at the end of their hour-long performance. Some audience members were in tears as they walked out.
Based in Wupperthal in the Cederberg mountains of the Northern Cape, the dancers became overnight sensations, after winning numerous medals at the 19th annual World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Los Angeles in July this year.  The competition is known as the 'Talent Olympics' for aspiring performers. During a two-week stay in Long Beach, California, they competed with contestants from around the world.
Awards won include: 14 gold and 8 silver medals in the senior dance category, gold in the Ethnic Folk Dance category, two gold medals in the Open Dance category. Despite no tap training, all 3 boys who won in the Tap Division category was awarded with scholarships to attend Millenium dance complex in LA.

Q and A with 17-year-old Reeldanser, Zarion Sampson

This year is the first time you performed at the Baxter Dance Festival. What was the experience like?
We didn't expect such a big crowed. We enjoyed it. We just did our best.

How often do you rehearse as a group?
We rehearse for 3-4 hours, thrice a week.

Can anyone become a reeldanser?
No, It comes naturally. If you don't have it, you don't have it. I got it from my grandmother.

What was it like being part of the World Performing Arts Championships in Los Angeles this year?It was a big experience for us. We didn't expect such a big trip. It was a great honour for us and as youngsters we enjoyed it.

When they called out your name what went through your mind?
We just couldn't believe it. We came out successful.

What are your future plans?
In 5 to 10 years, I would like to open my own dance school. As a group, every day we just aim higher and every day we just want to make a huge success of our dancing, so we can be role models to the youth.

Some more interesting facts...
The rieldans originated from the Khoi and San ceremonial dances which took place around a fire.
In the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s it was a courting dance.
Men would court the women by performing movements that would symbolize an animal, while the women would imitate house tasks like baking bread or washing clothes.
Rieldansers are dressed typically in traditional farm workers outfits, the girls in dresses with aprons and old frontier bonnets, and the boys in waistcoats and hats adorned with feathers, finished with the famous, hand-made red veldskoene from Wupperthal.
Die Nuwe GrasKoue Trappers was established in 2012.
The group was initially started to keep children busy.
They dance to the music of the band, made up of instruments such as a banjo, drums, accordion and guitars.