Botswana’s Diamond Sisters
Katlego and Kimberly are not your typical teen sisters, they are much more, they are just a resemblance of how it is like to be a very hard working person in life determined to achieve all their dreams. These two sisters are one of the most hardworking and unlimited little teens this country has come to know of, they even have their own label dance studio, they are just that good. They do so much that it’s hard to keep up with.
Tell me more about KatKim?
KatKim Delight Dance is a fun and friendly dance academy situated in Gaborone. It was founded on the 5th of September 2020. The name KatKim is a combination of the founder’s names named Katlego (kat) aged 12 and Kimberley (Kim) aged 9 whom are sisters. To join KatKim Delight Dance Academy you register with P150 which include a free t-shirt and pay P300 monthly. Its target group is 4 years to 18 years old. It offers different kinds of dance which are contemporary, hip hop, afro pop and jazz.
What inspired its foundation?
We once joined Global Dance Supreme which inspired us to start this foundation to help kids and youngsters in Botswana grow and be able to be part of such events representing Botswana. To help them gain more confidence through performing arts while having bunch of fun along the way. We also noticed so many kids have talent in dance but they lack in certain aspects of dance so our goal is to provide a nurturing environment for beginners through pre- professional dancers inspiring passion of dance by developing their dancing skills that can be utilized in new and exciting ways.
As the young founders of a dance studio with youngster kids working with you, do you have a management board or team that helps you run it?
Yes, we have a dance studio manager named Lebogang Matheakgomo (mother to the founders). She does few roles to keep our dance academy on track such as setting up classes, processing new registration requests, in charge of scheduling instructors for the various classes and other duties.
Are you the ones that offer the dance lessons?
No, we have coaches named Coach Seo and Coach Aquino they are both pre-professional female dancers. They are our leaders and mentors, they also choreograph unique routines and teach them to dance team members, observing our performance and providing suggestions for improvement.
As young and busy personalities, how do you balance modelling and dancing with school as well?
Since they are all important aspects of our lives, sometimes when you’re pulled in both directions, it can be tough to balance them. But we try to stay well-balanced, stay on top of all our school work and still get to dance or model by getting organized, prioritize looking at the schedule and go easy on ourselves..
You are young but hardworking kids, what milestones are you trying to reach and achieve?
Finding a path in life that will lead us to build a legacy that will make ourselves and our people proud. By embracing our nation’s culture through our talent and being well known internationally for our hard work.
Who do you both look up to that gives you inspiration?
For dance we are both inspired by Nia Sioux Frazier who was in reality show called Dance Moms. We look up to Nia because of her signature death drops, her stage presence, her determination to win, her bubbly personality, her friendship with all her team members, her flexibility, and her eagerness to learn new things. For modelling and pageantry, we are inspired by Mpule Kwelagobe the first black African woman to win Miss Universe Botswana 1999. We look up to her because of the goodwill she has done, for being an intelligent and sophisticated woman, for her beauty qualities which inspired us to archive those qualities that will make our nation proud.
Is it not challenging doing what you guys do?
Sometimes it is challenging especially keeping up with our talent. Talent never vanishes but holding on talent also needs continuous practice. If you reach an advanced level and stop practicing, you might find yourself back to being a beginner. These challenges also include finding the right inspiration, being persistent and dealing with too many limitations.
And how do you tackle those challenges?
Most importantly we tackle those challenges through our prayers to be able to keep on practicing and believe that our talent has no limits. We try by all means to be strong, set some kind of punishments for ourselves if we did not meet the deadline we have already set to be in control.
Are parents to the kids you also work with supportive of you and their kids in all you do enough?
I believe that the parents to the kids are fully supportive in terms of dropping their kids off a little early before class time which helps them focus more in dance classes. They are also prepared in making sure their kids come with the right attire for dance classes or performances. They listen to the management feedback and try not to overreact to comments like their kids missing steps. But the problem we face sometimes is late payments for dance classes which is not enough.
As kids what is it that you seek to inspire on other kids like you?
We want to inspire other kids to gain self-confidence by instilling a sense of hard work to them because that will help them be passionate about their talent. Also inspire them to trust their talent and never give up on their dreams to be one of the greatest artists in the world.
Both of you are very much into modelling, in that areas what is each of you desires to see having archived?
We both desire to be crowned Miss Universe or be part of Elite which is one of the most famous international modeling agency. Also to groom upcoming modelers who are inspired by our achievements.
Have you had any music video features as dancers?
We have been featured in two music videos so far which is a song named “Zenade” by an artist called Zenade and a song named “Fa go le monate” by an artist called Rhyme Killa.
As dancers, who out there can you say is your favorite dancer?
It is Nia Sioux Frazier!
Any word of advice to fans out?
You have to be given what’s needed by nature and what’s needed is to bring something new also never give up and keep dreaming because you will never know what the Lord has in mind for your future.
Duncan Sebeso