00:00It's absolutely fantastic.
00:03It's awesome, it's amazing.
00:05It's something so mesmerizing.
00:08I think the best carnival in the world.
00:12It's been absolutely incredible, it's amazing.
00:15Color, rhythm, dance, song, dazzling lights,
00:19the streets of Cape Town came alive,
00:22transformed into a living stage of culture,
00:25diversity and pure joy.
00:27My favourite thing about the carnival is the make-up,
00:30the dancing, the meeting the people,
00:33the leads, all of the make-up, the zazz,
00:36everything is just phenomenal, it's out of this world.
00:40The Cape Town Carnival burst onto the scene in 2010,
00:44born in the electric atmosphere of the FIFA World Cup.
00:48Today, it's a bold celebration of creativity
00:51and cultural connection.
00:53Months of rehearsals bring communities and dancers together
00:56to make it all look effortless.
00:58One of them is Colleen Slaters,
01:01a professional dancer who uses dance to bring young people together
01:04and help them showcase their talent.
01:09It started as a street dance crew literally in the streets
01:13and then later we got to use the community centre
01:16and then over a few years we actually changed it into free dance classes
01:20for the community and adult classes for surrounding areas.
01:25So we did a few competitions over the years
01:27but we mainly focus on free dance classes for the youth
01:29and training for our dance teachers and aspiring dancers and our adults.
01:34In an under-resourced community facing crime and school dropouts,
01:40Colleen offers something simple but powerful, a place to belong.
01:45With crime and gangsterism and all of those things,
01:48I do live in an underprivileged community
01:50and people are dropping out of school left, right and centre.
01:54It went from high school dropouts to primary school dropouts
01:57so if I can find a space for them to influence them to do something,
02:01just keep yourself busy. Even if you're not that into dancing, just come for vibes.
02:04I always say, just come for the vibes.
02:06We have something to eat, we have something to drink
02:07and it's good vibes just to get them off the streets
02:10and get them away from those bad habits.
02:12For Colleen, participating in the Cape Town Carnival means more than just dancing.
02:17It's also about bringing like-minded people together who might not otherwise connect.
02:22The carnival draws people from across the globe,
02:26each bringing their vibrant traditions to share in a dazzling celebration.
02:32We are based in America but Caribbean flavour.
02:35I love carnival. Carnival is a part of the Caribbean culture.
02:39So when I found out that Africa actually has carnivals,
02:42I said I have to be a part of the carnivals in Africa.
02:46They're different from our Caribbean carnivals but it's all one love. That's why.
02:5516 years on, the Cape Town Carnival still fuels local creativity
02:59which in turn grows skills, creates jobs, boosts tourism
03:03and gives diverse communities a powerful platform.
03:07For Colleen, as a professional dancer, the hardest thing is finding a rhythm in her daily life.
03:14The greatest challenge is to remain consistent.
03:18You never know when the next job is coming, you never know what is happening.
03:22As a freelancer especially, you're not going to a 9 to 5 job.
03:25So the greatest challenge is just to stay consistent and to have that tenacity.
03:29Hence that's why we are called Tenacity Movement so that we are reminded to not give up.
03:35There's a dream, go for that dream at all times.
03:39Go for that dream at all times.
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