Sisters Anisa Gugwini, 16, and Sithi Mfolozi, 11, pupils at Reddam House in Westlake, have the opportunity to showcase their talent in Orlando, Florida, in America.
Now they are raising funds to pay for the preparation and travel fees to attend the International Model and Talent Association (IMTA) convention in July.
The sisters call themselves Triple Threat.
Tripping over giggles, they explain that triple threat is a theatrical term relating to someone who is proficient in three important skills within their particular field. Sithi is a triple threat because her main fields are acting, dancing and modelling.
Anisa’s main fields are dancing, singing and acting.
The sisters also do cold reading, voice overs, TV scene and commercials, as well as runway and jean modelling. In their spare time they enjoy hiking, art, baking and Anisa makes garments from recycled materials.
Their story began in October 2020 with a virtual audition in their Muizenberg home for the International Arts and Talent Showcase (IATS) 10th annual showcase. The three-day event was hosted by Johannesburg talent agency 33&Me.
Anisa sang and danced hip hop to Pretty Savage by Blackpink and Sithi danced hip hop to Boss B*tch by Doja Cat.
“The showcase was a success and we received individual callbacks where we were selected by the international judging panel,” said Anisa.
Among the panel was Rhavynn Drummer, senior casting director of Tyler Perry Studios Castings; Joey Hunter, former CEO of Ford Models; IMTA board member Aviva Skall, vice-president of MMG Model, Talent, and Celebrity; Blaze Johnson, from The Voice America; Nate Butler, a singer-songwriter and music producer, A&R for America’s Got Talent, X Factor USA, and Kids Says the Darndest Things America.
Anisa said they have trained with the Twisted Movement Dance Studio in Meadowridge since 2013.
They normally spend one to two hours a day practising but only had three days to prepare for the audition so spent five hours a day.
The importance of the IMTA convention, to be held from Sunday to Thursday, July 18 to 22, is that it coincides with Mandela Day. “And it’s a great opportunity to showcase South African talent to the western world after Youth Month. Local talent is branching out and it’s our time to shine,” said Anisa.
Sithi said at the convention they will be training and networking with over 300 international industry professionals and will be performing on the IMTA stage in front of international agents, record labels, casting directors, managers and producers from Hollywood, Miami, Atlanta, New York, Asia and Europe.
In the invitation, IMTA talent scout with 33&Me, Joey Hunter, wrote, “Take great pride in knowing that you are among the very best and have made it though when others have not. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, where you can turn your dreams into a reality”.
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