GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT NEWS - The South African Championship for Performing Arts (SACOPA) is coming to the Garden Route.

Well, part of it is.

For the first time in the competition, regional auditions will be held in the Southern Cape - in George - on 15 May. The deadline for entries is 30 April.

There is a variety of categories: acting, dance, modelling, instruments, vocal and variety acts. There is also a variety of sub-categories within these.

This is an ideal platform for young performers to show off their talent.

The regional auditions will take place on 15 May at the George Arts Theatre.

Annerie Snyman, who lives in Glentana, is the newly-appointed SACOPA South Western Districts director.

Organised music festivals
She recently moved to Glentana from Johannesburg. She has knowledge of SACOPA because her children have entered the championship in the past. She has also organised music festivals before.

The SACOPA finals take place in Rustenberg from 1 to 10 October.

The cost to enter here in the South Western Distrcits is R100 per solo entry in a category. If you would like to enter in another category, you pay another R100. If it is a group entry, each person in the group pays R80.

The age categories range from five to seven years of age, to 30 years and older.

Snyman says: "There is such vast talent here. My aim is to see if there are enough people to go through to the finals. Then I will try to obtain sponsorships for a bus to Rustenberg. The nationals are expensive, so I would like to secure sponsorship for accommodation and perhaps entry fees too."

Snyman points out that many children in the South Western Districts are involved in performing arts, but there are few competitions, so she is pleased to be able to facilitate the regional SACOPA finals in this area.

For more information, contact Snyman (082 923 1258).

'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news'