Dance duo heads to hip hop champs in Portugal
Dance duo Farren Lategan, 13, and Shai Mulligan, 13 are heading to Portugal for the 2022 Hip Hop Unite Championships. Farren, however, is in need of funding to make her dance dreams come true.
The dance duo will be representing South Africa at the 2022 Hip Hop Unite World Championship in Portugal.
They will be competing in the cadet section category where ages 7 to 13 will do locking, b-boying, wacking, to mention a few.
Farren, originally from Hanover Park, who lives in Woodlands and Shai, from Athlone, have been competing as a duo for more than three years.
Farren, however, is in need of funding to make it to the dance competition in Portugal.
Farren and Shai obtained their Western Cape colours in 2018 at the first competition they entered. In 2019 they also qualified at the Dance Star National Championships to dance in Croatia 2020, but unfortunately couldn't go due to Covid-19.
They were disappointed that they couldn’t compete due to the pandemic.
They did a Hip Hop Unite Regional and Hip Hop Unite National competition and obtain adequate points to qualify to dance at the 2022 Hip Hop Unite World Championships in Portugal.
Farren is determined to make her friends and family proud. This year despite losing one of the most important people in her life, her grandfather and cheerleader, Pa Brian Lategan, weeks before the National Hip Hop Unite Championships competition, she is still determined to make it in dancing and compete.
“I want to inspire local children facing similar challenges on the Cape Flats to rise above their circumstances and achieve the impossible,” said Farren.
Farren’s mother Cleon Lategan said: “We are proud of her for always pushing to do more and better herself, not just in dance but in school, academically, she is a good student. To represent South Africa, is a massive achievement for her. We need support to allow her to bear the good fruits of hard work and determination.”
Farren’s aunt Mellisa Petersen said: “She’s so talented. The dancing as well as acting is allowing her an opportunity to shine. This is a great opportunity for both the girls to shine and share their talent. We are so proud of her, we are proud of both of them,” she said.
Shai’s mother Samantha Mulligan said her daughter is very excited and worked hard to qualify this year.
“I’m also an athlete and will be participating with our senior crew at the competition. This would be my third time competing and first time doing it with my daughter. I am so proud of how far she has come in dance as this is her passion,” she said.
“I always tell Shai she can do anything she puts her mind to and she’s often reminded that she’s more than capable,” said Ms Mulligan.
Shai said she is very proud of herself for coming this far. She is happy that she’s accomplished what she’s been trying to do for six years. “I am looking forward to seeing other countries, exploring and meeting new people. I am also looking forward to seeing the dancing from other countries,” she said.
Farren needs the support of the public to help her make her dancing dreams come true. They’ve started a BackaBuddy campaign to cover her costs to Portugal.
For more information, contact Mellisa Petersen on 064 262 2040 or email mellisap885@gmail.com or log on to BackaBuddy to get the link to donate.