SA dance sensation blows away rivals with top UK award

South African-born dancer Dane Hurst has become the toast of the London arts scene after scooping a prestigious dance award.

For Hurst, who was born in Port Elizabeth, it was a "big thing". He is only the second contemporary dancer to win the best male dancer category at the Critics Circle National Dance Awards. It is usually reserved for classical dancers.

Hurst did his first plié in a small dilapidated studio just more than 20 years ago.

In a telephone interview this week, the 29-year-old said: "It's quite a big thing. It feels like just reward after all these years.

''Ballet is always seen as the main type of art form, but contemporary dance is slowly creeping out to be viewed on an equal level. The guys nominated in my category are the best in Britain at the moment.

''I wasn't expecting to win. The fact that I was chosen is phenomenal."

Hurst had major praise for his first ballet teacher, Gwen Mary Wells, who gave him free lessons for 10 years and helped him to secure bursaries from the Linbury Trust and the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Trust.

This enabled the dancer to train at the internationally renowned Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, which he later joined.

He began dancing as an eight-year-old after accompanying his grandmother to the Toynbee Ballet School, which she supplied with costumes.

''I would watch the dancers while sitting under the table. I saw one guy dancing around among all the girls and he lived on my street," said Hurst.

''I found out that he received a scholarship to train in London and I realised it was an amazing opportunity."

Although a hugely successful dancer, Hurst said his family had yet to watch him perform as a professional.

He hopes his next project, a collaboration with South Africa's multi-award-winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo, will also be brought to South Africa after its London showing.

Hurst said he wanted to give back to his community and had already began working on a production with the Ubuntu Education Fund.

''They do amazing work. I offered to set up a regular dance course, but it's difficult because I live in the UK. I hope to return home for a much longer period so I can give back a little."

He is studying a master's degree in choreography through the University of Kent.