Local ballet stars: Umhlanga sisters Aashka and Akara's Royal Academy achievement

TWO talented young sisters from Umhlanga Ridge have received prestigious Certificates of High Merit from the Royal Academy of Dance in the UK, marking an important milestone in their promising dance careers while balancing academics and preparing for international performances.

Aashka, 9, and her older sister Akara, 10, who both attend Atholton Primary School, recently celebrated the achievement after their certificates arrived from the United Kingdom, a proud moment for the young dancers and their family.

Akara described the accomplishment as deeply rewarding.

“I feel a wave of gratitude as I recognise this achievement as a reward for my hard work. I was excited because these certifications came from the UK,” she said. 

“Consistency, discipline and hard work remain the reason I do well and practice hard. I am also a tap dancer. I took on ballet because it is the foundation of almost all dance forms, helping me become more precise and my movements more controlled,” she said.

Akara began tap dancing in Grade 2 in 2023 and added ballet in January 2025 to strengthen her technique. She credits her younger sister for inspiring her ballet journey.

“I was inspired to do ballet because my sister was in it. She inspires me every day,” she added.

The sisters’ dance calendar is already filling up with exciting opportunities. 

“We are off to Paris in July to support my sister and then we are doing a show at the Milkwood Theatre which is produced by Denise da Silva of GSSD. Thereafter we are looking forward to the MOVE National Dance Competition. We both had great success with this competition last year,” said Akara.

For Aashka, ballet has been part of her life since Grade R in 2022. She later expanded her repertoire to include hip hop, embracing both the discipline of classical dance and the creativity of modern styles.

“Ballet teaches me discipline and consistency. I dance different genres and dance in the studio for two hours a week. I practice at home quite a bit. We warm up, go into technique and skill development, and then into choreography if we have a show or competition coming up.”

She said strength and focus were key to mastering ballet. 

“You need strength because it is difficult to hold positions. Also discipline, because I’m easily distracted sometimes,” she admitted with a smile.

Balancing academics and dance requires careful planning. 

“My sister and I are both strong on academics. We are strict on time management and we try to be as organised as possible with the help of our mum. We help each other practice, we keep it light-hearted and fun.”

Aashka’s passion has taken her from “the initial joy of twirling in ballet slippers” to performing in shows and competitions, with even bigger stages ahead. In July 2026, she will perform in the parade at Disneyland Paris and at the iconic Eiffel Tower.

“I am looking forward to our upcoming shows and competing, hopefully as a duet with my sister by my side. I want to move higher in grades and receive a distinction on my next exam. The sky's the limit if you have passion and dedicated mentors. Keep going, never give up!”

Both sisters expressed gratitude to their mentors, including Denise da Silva and the team at the Gail Smith School of Dance, for guiding and supporting their journey.

The POST