MUTARE - Mutare-based dance group Unit Edge, winners of the Zimbabwe’s Finest Dance Group competition held in Harare over the weekend, is seeking sponsorship to enable them to participate in the World Hip-Hop Championships in the United States of America.
The five-member group beat six other groups during auditions held at Reps Theatre in Harare last Saturday to earn the right to represent the country in the global hip-hop championships in Las Vegas that will take place between June and August.
Clint Ndlovu ,21, Nyasha Nichena, 19, Terrence Mabvanya, 21, Dexter Kamukango,19, and Michael Manuel,19, who teamed up in 2009 to form a hip-hop dance group, have been a force to reckon with ever since.
They claimed fifth place among 15 groups in the New School Battle of the Year competition held at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) three years ago.
In the same year, they came third in another competition titled Undisputed that featured eight groups.
After participating in the British Council-sponsored Live Vibe programme in 2012 that enabled them to take part in the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa), the Mutare dancers experienced a lull last year.
“While our families are very supportive of our pursuit of dance as a possible career path, we are looking at raising $2 500 each to make the trip to the World Hip-Hop Dance camp that will be running from June to August this year,” Ndlovu told the Daily News.
Nichena conceded that going to America, the home of hip-hop, was akin to entering a lion’s den.
“It will be very tough that is for sure but I am sure if we get a good choreographer it will greatly enhance our chances on the competitive world stage.”
Mabvanya added that they will do all in their power to make the trip possible.
“We will do several performances to fundraise for the opportunity we hope will transform our lives as we will be representing Zimbabwe in the competitions.”