Dublin – Three ballet dancers from Talent ‘n’ Motion Academy officially represented Eswatini at the Dance World Cup 2026 Finals in Dublin, Ireland, completing their performances on the opening day of the competition on Wednesday.
Nkosinemusa Gumedze, Elihle Masinga, and 11-year-old Wenziwe Mtshali each stepped onto the world stage, closing the chapter that began when the academy, led by dance teacher Velile Dube, qualified for the finals and secured visas at the eleventh hour.
Gumedze opened the day as the first ballerina on stage at 09:48, followed by Masinga, before Mtshali completed the trio with a midday performance. All three competed in the ballet category, with Masinga and Mtshali dancing in the Silver Fairy section. 
Announcing the line up before the performances, the academy said the dancers had trained hard for the moment. “The wait is over! Our dancers are officially representing Eswatini at the Dance World Cup in Ireland. Our three beautiful ballet dancers have trained so hard for this moment. They are ready to share their love for dance with the world!” the academy wrote.
Dube arrived in Dublin ahead of the finals and shared a light hearted note about the Irish weather before the competition began. “Hello from the other side. Rumour has it Irish summer is a myth, but we found the sun and we are soaking up every second of it. Before things get REAL tomorrow, we decided to quickly step out for a little exploring,” she wrote.
After the ballet trio completed their routines, the academy celebrated the day and looked ahead to the rest of its campaign. “Day 1 at DWC: Done and dusted. So proud of the magic our ballet girls brought to the stage today. But don’t blink, because Talent ‘n’ Motion – Academy is only getting started. We are still going to serve sauce,” the post read.
The academy said its squad in Ireland would grow in the coming days, with more dancers due to arrive and a further group set to join on July 13. “The squad is getting bigger and stronger! More of our dancers are boarding tomorrow and the next group joins us on the 13th. We absolutely cannot wait. Kusazoba mnandi,” it wrote.
Reflecting on the ballet trio’s outing, the academy described the experience as a victory in itself. “Nkosinemusa Gumedze, Elihle Masinga, and 11-year-old Wenziwe Mtshali all stepped onto that massive stage and danced beautifully. Seeing them live this dream and share their love for dance on a global stage is a victory in itself. We are so incredibly proud of their hard work and grace,” it wrote.
Talent ‘n’ Motion Academy still has several dancers scheduled to perform in the days ahead, including entries in solo street dance, lyrical, and small group ballet categories that run through to July 16.
