Tina James

Chief Diva   Read more

 

Esther Briggs

Divas Dance Instructor / Operations Support   Read more

 

Tish Grindlay

Divas Dance and Divas Fitness Instructor   Read more

 

Joubert Jonker

Guest Instructor: Showdance   Read more

 

Jacquie du Plessis

Guest Instructor: Ballet Basics   Read more

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Tina James

Chief Diva

Dancing Divas was born out of a heartfelt desire to pass on the joy and exhilaration of dancing to other women, particularly those over 30. Tina James, the founder of Dancing Divas, noticed that there are few opportunities for mature women to pursue their often unrealized childhood dreams of dancing. Often too shy to join a dance or gym class, women have nowhere to go where they can dance by themselves and with women closer to their own age and level of fitness. Dancing Divas is aimed at providing a fun dance experience for those who want to try something more energetic and demanding later in life.

Tina’s love of dance began as a young girl practising tap and ballet but she stopped dancing in her early teens. She had always wanted to do Spanish dancing, so at the mature age of 38 she joined Helena Montoya’s beginners’ class at a time when most of the other students were children. “It was a daunting experience, but I so badly wanted to learn that I put on a brave face and joined the little kids. Even my mother came to watch my first trial exam class with the other moms!” After eleven years of Spanish dancing and at age 49, she moved onto Ballroom and Latin American dancing, where once again, a kind and understanding teacher in the form of Johan Hayes showed her how important a caring environment is to develop one’s dance ability and confidence. Add to that a gym instructor by the name of Riaan, who insisted on ‘attitude’, and a sassy young woman who had infinite patience in putting some hip into Tina’s stiff and plank-like body. Throw in a few dancing champ titles in ballroom and Latin American, and the groundwork was laid for her to pay it forward. Dancing Divas was born.

When asked about her own dancing, the common response is often “ You are different to the rest of us, we cannot do that”, “I am too old to start dancing now”, “I have two left feet”, “I am too fat and embarrassed about my body”, “I don’t have anyone to dance with me”. Having struggled with many of these feelings herself, and almost giving up her dancing two years ago because she felt that she was too old and large to be dancing in ‘sequins and slits’, a dream started emerging to create a dancing space for women like herself, a space where women could find themselves, and have some fun, through dance.

Dancing Divas is a dance experience for mature women. There are no exams, no tests, just women having fun together through the sweat and laughter (and the more serious business of learning the steps). Choreographies are done in such a way that they can be danced alone and in group formations. We use a variety of accessories such as scarves, hats, fans and chairs and do simple routines in a variety of dance styles. The music can be anything from Abba’s Mamma Mia to a ballet waltz or a sassy Latino number.

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Esther Briggs

Divas Dance Instructor / Operations Support

Esther is a leading instructor at Dancing Divas, one of the founding members who has assisted in the inception and development of the company thus far. She has responsibility for teaching, training, beginners courses, administration and will be taking a stronger role in the management of Dancing Divas as it continues to expand to other centres in Gauteng and beyond.

Her passion for music started in her early teens under the instruction of a kind and patient piano teacher who opened the door to a love of music and rhythm. Dance followed shortly thereafter and a new passion was born. She has done various styles of dance: modern, barndance, social ballroom and Latin, street Latin, jazz and linedance. She continues to further her skills in ballroom and Latin American dancing.

Esther believes in a gentle, patient and caring teaching environment where people can “be themselves”. Her classes offer a touch of elegance and style, many laughs in a fun atmosphere where people can develop at their own pace with a gentle nudge if needed.
She thoroughly enjoys the rewarding experience of teaching and the challenges that Dancing Divas has to offer.

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Tish Grindlay

Divas Dance and Divas Fitness Instructor

More about Tish is coming soon…

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Joubert Jonker

Guest Instructor: Showdance