As August gets into full swing, South Africa celebrates Women’s Month by honouring the courage of the women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 in the fight for equal rights and opportunities. Their legacy continues to inspire young women who are breaking barriers and pursuing excellence in every field.
One such trailblazer is 14-year-old Isabella Kharaka from Germiston, whose dedication and talent have seen her represent South Africa on the international stage.
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Rising through the ranks
Kharaka recently competed in the 2026 Blackpool Freestyle World Dance Championships, held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, United Kingdom. She qualified through a series of compulsory competitions held throughout 2025, meeting strict criteria to compete against the world’s best freestyle dancers.
A learner at Parktown High School for Girls, Kharaka’s passion for dance began almost as soon as she could walk. Recognising her natural ability early on, her parents encouraged her to pursue the sport. Now with 12 years of dance experience, she trains at Soul In Motion Dance Studio under the guidance of Lady Keziah Milner and Gabriella Marques.
Kharaka began competing competitively at just two years old. Her exceptional talent was first recognised at nursery school by teacher Sasha-Lee Herbst of Live to Dance, who committed herself to developing Kharaka’s abilities. While one instructor initially placed her in a beginners’ class, another recognised her advanced skills and promoted her. There, she specialised in freestyle dance—a demanding discipline combining contemporary dance, gymnastics, and other performance styles.
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Her journey from a talented toddler in Germiston to representing South Africa on the world stage is a proof of years of dedication, discipline, and hard work. As the country commemorates Women’s Month, Kharaka stands as an inspiring example of the next generation of young women proving that with talent, perseverance, and the right support, there are no limits to what they can achieve.
World Dance Championships performance
Kharaka travelled to England with the South African team alongside her coach. This year’s championships marked her second appearance at the prestigious international competition. Her debut in Blackpool in 2025 served as a valuable learning experience: competing in the U14 Premier Championship, she reached the quarter-finals in hip-hop and the semi-finals in slow dance, narrowly missing the Premier Dance Top 10 (only the top six advanced). In freestyle, she did not progress beyond the early rounds.
Instead of becoming discouraged, Kharaka returned home determined to improve.
“This year I came back stronger,” she said. “I qualified for my Protea colours again, and I’ve held my national colours for the past four years. I wasn’t always able to go to the UK and compete because of financial constraints. Last year and again this year, my father had to raise funds to make the trip possible.”
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Her determination paid off. In the 2026 championships, she reached the world’s Top 10 in freestyle and advanced to the semi-finals, narrowly missing the final after only five dancers were selected. In slow dance, she finished sixth out of 50 competitors, again reaching the semi-finals. Her biggest achievement came in hip-hop, where she placed second among 49 of the world’s best dancers.
“Hip-hop was stressful, but I kept coming back and danced my heart out,” she said. “In slow dance, every year the judges are looking for something different.”
She also drew inspiration from some of the world’s finest dancers, including Ketty Ross, whom she describes as one of the strongest freestyle dancers internationally.
Guided by world-class coaches
Kharaka believes she has benefited immensely from being coached by dancers who have themselves competed and excelled on the world stage.
“They know exactly what it takes to reach the top of the mountain,” she said.
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Preparing for Blackpool required months of sacrifice. As the only dancer from her studio preparing for the World Championships, she trained virtually every day throughout the year, combining technical dance sessions with fitness training and mental preparation. Looking back, she believes the difference between her first and second trips was confidence.
“Last year was more like an introduction. I experienced the huge dance floor, the atmosphere and performing in front of international judges. This year I was ready to conquer.”
Balancing academics and sport
Outside the dance studio, Kharaka is equally passionate about academics and sport. She enjoys mathematics and has participated in water polo, diving, soccer, and netball. During her time at Bedfordview Primary School, she ranked among the school’s top 10 academic achievers.
The path to qualification
“Dancers have to qualify a full year in advance and finish among the top six in South Africa before they can represent the country,” explained coach Lady Keziah Milner.
Milner noted that qualifying for the World Championships is an achievement in itself. She detailed that Isabella spent an entire year training different routines, improving her fitness and mental resilience to meet the rigorous standards required to don the Protea colours.
Future aspirations
Her family now hopes to secure sponsorships early to support future international competitions.
“We want to qualify again and bring home the overall titles,” said her mother, Relebohile Julia Koatsa. “But competing internationally is expensive, so we have to start knocking on sponsors’ doors early.”