VICTORIA, Seychelles — Dancers from six countries turned the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort ballroom into a celebration of movement and colour over the weekend of 18 to 19 July, as Seychelles hosted the fourth edition of the World Artistic Dance Federation All-African Artistic Dance Championship.
A total of 189 dancers took part in the competition, walking away with 1,350 medals — 600 gold, 400 silver and 350 bronze — in what organisers described as one of the strongest editions since the event was first held in Seychelles. About 20 international dancers travelled to the islands to compete alongside local talent, joined by international judges and WADF officials whose presence, the federation said, was central to the championship’s professional standard.
Principal Secretary for Culture, Arts and National Heritage Cecile Kalebi, whose ministry backed the event, said the scale of the 2026 edition reflected the country’s growing reputation as a regional hub for artistic dance. “This year’s championship welcomed participants from six countries: Seychelles, South Africa, Botswana, Hungary, Poland and the Russian Federation,” she noted, adding that more than 50 separate competition entries had been staged across solo, duet, trio, small-group and large-formation categories.
Among the Seychellois studios and clubs that took to the floor were Artistic Dance Factory, the Seychelles School of Dance, Elite Dance & Fitness Studio, XVision Dance Studio, Dynamite, All Stars, Diamond, Emergency Crew, Seychelles Latin Rhythms, Heartbeat Latin & Ballroom Dance Studio, Angel Dance Attitude, Dance for Your Heart, and Sir Gerald Studio. International delegations came from La Danse Panier (Botswana), Ya Bana Village, Move Feet 2 Beat and Toes On Point (South Africa), Paso Akademia Tanca (Poland), Dance Talent TSE (Hungary), and Elegant Dancing Studio and Club APELSIN (Russian Federation).
The two-day programme offered a spectrum of styles, from the youngest competitors taking their first steps on an international stage to seasoned adult performers, with each routine reflecting months of disciplined preparation. Spectators were treated to a display of costume, hair and make-up that, in many cases, was as carefully choreographed as the dancing itself.
Ms Kalebi said the overall standard of competition had continued to improve compared with previous editions, with Seychellois dancers in particular showing significant gains in confidence, technical ability and artistic expression. The opportunity to dance alongside international competitors — and to be assessed by experienced adjudicators — has, the federation says, become an invaluable part of the local training pathway.
Beyond medals, the championship doubled as a cultural exchange. Dancers from different countries shared stages, dinners and rehearsals, with the universal language of music and movement steadily dissolving any language barrier. The event’s organisers also pointed to the broader contribution made to the local economy, with visiting officials, coaches and families supporting the island’s tourism trade.
Ms Kalebi said the National Working Group was already looking ahead to a fifth edition, promising new categories and continued investment in training and international exchanges. The federation, she added, was committed to “providing further opportunities for training, international exchanges, and competitions that will continue to strengthen artistic dance locally.”
For two memorable days in Beau Vallon, dance became more than a competition. It became a celebration of talent, perseverance, culture and unity, and a reminder that Seychelles — small in geography — is growing steadily as a competitive host for international sporting and cultural events.
Sources cited: Seychelles Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development; The Seychelles Times — 17 July 2026 coverage of the Bolshoi Theatre exhibition in Victoria (cultural-performance context for the same week as the WADF championship).
