GUMBOOT dancing the source of joy for Senzeni

We all have that one particular thing which has a way of getting us out of our comfort zones, we sometimes tend to seek for that one thing that could bring joy in our hearts but we fail to find it. In this article as I write I was very inspired by the story of this young man by the name of Senzeni  Mtshali, here he describes GUMBOOTS dancing as his source of joy.  Gumboots dancing?? You all probably wondering what is this I am talking about, Gumboots is an African traditional dance that originated from the mines of Johannesburg in South Africa, in the old 1950s the miners that came from different origins couldn’t communicate with one another so they used the sound of their boots to communicate with each other underground. How amazing is this? The beauty of gumboots dancing never stopped since then, and what’s more amazing is the impact it has made in the youth of today like Senzeni Mtshali, he lives in a disadvantaged community called Kliptown where there are no schools, no electricity or proper housing. He is a member of a youth program called Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) and there he was introduced to Gumboots dancing and till today he has never stopped doing it.  I had the privilege to ask Senzeni a few questions about the significance gumboots dance plays in his life.

What does gumboots dancing mean to you? “I am in love with Gumboots dancing that’s how much it means to me, when you are in love with someone they mean so much to you because you know they have a way of making you happy. I found love in Gumboots dancing, it brings out the inner beauty of me and it makes me feel good about myself. When I am doing gumboots I forget about the negativity surrounding me, I forget that I’m not so privileged like the other kids in the world instead It shows me the power I have and teaches me not to be afraid of me”

He also described how Gumboots dancing has opened opportunities for him as a young person living in a disadvantaged area like Kliptown. He has travelled to China and has performed on top of the Great Wall where every tourist there was watching him and his group from KYP perform. Senzeni is a natural on stage I have to say this, when he claps his hands on his boots the sound that comes out of that is amazing. The love he portrays when he performs moved me emotionally; you can see the love from the smile and the words they say during their performances. Senzeni has 3 brothers and it’s amazing that all of them are gumboots dancers and they all share the same passion and love for it, so his not alone, even his friends are gumboots dancers too.

I love how Gumboots dancing has made an impact in the community of Kliptown, who would have thought a dance could make such a huge difference in ones lives. Senzeni wears his boots proudly and is respected in the community because of it. His wish is to see history repeat itself; he would love the world to communicate through gumboots dancing to improve the language barriers... Haha good thought, maybe not in this lifetime…

- written by Nelisiwe Walaza - KYP -