Germiston Teen Isabella Kharaka Places 2nd at 2026 Blackpool Freestyle World Dance Championships
- Fourteen-year-old Isabella Kharaka from Germiston represented South Africa at the 2026 Blackpool Freestyle World Dance Championships in England
- Kharaka competed against 49 elite global dancers in the hip-hop category, with her Soul In Motion Dance Studio coaches backing her return after a 2025 debut
- Her family and coaching team are now looking for sponsorships to fund her next trip to Blackpool as she targets an overall world title
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Instagram
GAUTENG — A 14-year-old dancer from Germiston has announced herself on the world stage after a standout performance at the 2026 Blackpool Freestyle World Dance Championships, held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England.
Isabella Kharaka, a Grade 9 student at Parktown High School for Girls, earned her place on the South African team by achieving top-six national rankings across several trial events throughout 2025. Her qualification marked the beginning of a year-long push to perform at the highest level of international competitive dance.
Kharaka's results in Blackpool
In the hip-hop division, Kharaka finished second among 49 competitors drawn from across the globe. She also reached the semi-finals in the slow dance category, placing sixth out of 50 entrants, and broke into the world top 10 in the freestyle discipline, advancing to the semi-final round in that event as well.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
The results represent a significant step forward from her 2025 appearance at the same championship, which she and her coaches described as an introduction to international competition rather than a title challenge.
Daily training behind the achievement
Kharaka has been dancing since the age of two and currently trains at Soul In Motion Dance Studio in Gauteng. Her coaches are Lady Keziah Milner, a former Blackpool world champion herself, and Gabriella Marques. Following her 2025 debut, Kharaka committed to a full year of daily preparation covering physical conditioning, technical refinement, and mental resilience ahead of her 2026 campaign.
Beyond dance, she maintains strong academic results and participates in school sports, including soccer, water polo, and netball.
Sponsorship drive for future competitions
With a podium finish now on her record, Kharaka's family and coaching team have turned their attention to securing financial backing. The costs associated with international travel remain a significant barrier, and the group is actively seeking sponsorships to ensure she can return to Blackpool and compete for an outright world championship title.
Source: Instagram
More South African dance stories making waves
- Briefly News recently reported on American in-laws who stole the spotlight at their son's South African wedding with their energetic moves to a viral lekompo hit.
- In another viral moment, a man stepped in and blocked his partner from dancing with Limpopo Boy, sparking a heated reaction online.
- Meanwhile, a matric dance black carpet entrance had South Africans talking after glamorous pupils showed off their striking outfits against a stunning mountain backdrop.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
