While they have won the hearts of many in the last two years, many more still wonder who the three energetic dancing men are.
They are the PE Boys.
A name loved and known by some and soon to be known by even more following their performance last week.
At the Ebubeleni Fashion show, held at the Tramways Building last weekend, the three men left the audience pleasantly surprised when they performed Xhosa traditional dances to Thandiswa Mazwai’s Lahl’umlenze.
They impressed the audience further with the performance of different dance styles, including sibujwa and hip hop.
Versatility was etched into their identity, group founding member Junior King said.
The PE Boys dance group was founded in 2019 out of a shared passion for the art of dancing, he said.
Initially a group of six dancers, two left along the way and another, Rushe Reid, died in April 2020, leaving just King, Jadrian Swartz and Dillon Domingo.
“We always had a dance group but we never got paid for it.
“We just went to competitions and danced for free because we loved dancing.
“Now that we’re older and we know we have to take care of our families, it’s more of a business,” King said.
The PE Boys shot to fame in 2020 when they amassed 10-million views for their video on social media platforms.
Their national tour sold 26 shows.
When Reid died, King said, he left a void.
“His death left a hole and void in the crew and got us down and not performing as much.
“We decided to carry on and not give up because we felt as if we are now doing things for Rushe and making him proud the more we achieve and elevate,” King said.
While they have danced in front of thousands of people and shared stages with several international musicians, the dancers’ performance in Las Vegas stays etched in their memories.
They represented SA in an international dance competition in 2015, performing for an audience of 30,000.
At the time, they were PE’s Finest Dance Group, also founded by King.
On May 17, the trio will officially open a dance studio in Central, at 33 Chapel Street.
King Dance Studios will be open to aspiring dancers of all ages.
King said they would teach hip hop, amapiano and Tik Tok dance styles.
King, who started dancing at the age of seven, said dancing had been a part of his daily life since.
“Dancing means everything to me.
“When I wake up in the morning, I think dance. When I sleep at night I think dance.
“It brings me happiness,” he said.
He said the studio would also help people with fitness programmes and groom new dance crews in the city.
“Even if you have two left feet and can’t dance at all, we will help you develop your dance skills,” he said.
King said he was passionate about teaching dancers and showing them the possibilities that came with it.
“I could make a career out of just dance, with no 9-5 job, and I want to show other people that it’s possible to generate an income from dancing.
“Dancing is not just a hobby,” King said.
Follow The PE Boys on Facebook.
HeraldLIVE