Local ballroom instructor Francois "Frankie" van Eck has made a name for himself by helping beginners overcome their fears and find confidence on the dance floor. As the founder of the Dance With studio, Van Eck has built his teaching around turning anxiety into confidence, one step at a time. He believes that the initial hurdles are mental blocks rather than physical limitations. "In my experience, the first thing dancers are most afraid of is not knowing what to expect," Van Eck said.
Van Eck specialises in private tuition, creating a space where students can learn without feeling observed. He views making mistakes as part of the process, likening it to learning how to ride a bicycle. "When a person learns how to ride a bicycle, it will be wobbly at first," he noted. "But it's how you pick yourself up to understand your own ability and feel more capable." This approach has helped his students build confidence and progress to social dances.
One of Van Eck's long-time students, Christine Dixie, credits his expertise and patience for helping her stick with the discipline. Dixie was drawn to the studio after watching Van Eck perform at a cultural event at Kingswood College. "I thought, 'Oh, that looks so amazing. I wish I could do that," Dixie recalled. She has since completed three formal dance gradings, an assessment process where dancers present routines to visiting examiners.
Van Eck's teaching style focuses on developing musicality, posture, and self-esteem, while offering cognitive benefits. He believes that ballroom dancing is a form of therapy, and that persisting is key to progress. "What keeps me passionate about teaching is when students start persisting, because persisting is key to progress," Van Eck said. "Most of all, it's when students start to realise what this form of dance is doing for their bodies and brains and that it is, in fact, a form of therapy."
The effectiveness of Van Eck's approach was evident at the International Social Dance Grading, held at Kingswood College on Saturday, 19 September. Local talent put their preparation to the test, with Kingswood College dancers Tyler-Star Hillier and Lumbidzani Monyatsi earning Honours for both the Ballroom Dancing and Latin-American Dancing sections of Level 2. Van Eck's adult dancers also performed exceptionally well across their respective divisions.
The event featured a strong showing from Van Eck's adult dancers at Dance With, including Duncan Haynes, Esther Mostert, Christine Dixie, Sheree Coupé, and Rachel van der Merwe. Miranda Botha, Vice-President of the South African Dance Teachers Association (SADTA) and examiner for the day, commended the high standard displayed by the Dance With students throughout the assessments. Botha travelled to Makhanda for the event to oversee the examinations.
For Van Eck, seeing students take on challenges like dance exams or preparing for a first wedding dance represents the most rewarding part of his work. He continues to yield results for local dancers, and his dedication to progress has earned him a reputation as a patient and knowledgeable instructor. With his approach, Van Eck has helped his students build confidence and develop a lifelong passion for ballroom dancing.
Key points
- Francois "Frankie" van Eck's Dance With studio offers private tuition to ease anxiety for first-time dancers.
- Van Eck's teaching style focuses on developing musicality, posture, and self-esteem, while offering cognitive benefits.
- Local dancers from Dance With performed exceptionally well at the International Social Dance Grading, held at Kingswood College on Saturday, 19 September.
