Dance & Fitness studio for disadvantaged students

Mangaung Drama and Dance Group (MDG) is a registered non-profit organisation and an accredited training provider in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

With crime, violence and substance abuse increasing, Dr Wessel Joubert and Mr Hennie Swart founded MDG in 2005 to offer a safe and creative environment for underprivileged and disadvantaged youth of the Mangaung area to express themselves and an alternative for spending time on the streets and potentially getting in conflict with the law.

The organisation grew rapidly and was able to secure and manage funding from donors such as the National Arts Council, the National Lotteries Commission and the Free State Department of Arts and Culture to teach the youth performing arts skills and self esteem development.

MDG’s production standards increased to such an extent that it is staged at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown - a highlight on MDG’s annual calendar.

The potential for formal training became evident and in 2008 the process of getting accreditation was started. MDG became fully accredited in 2015 to train and issue qualifications registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Because fitness training is an essential part of performing arts (especially in dance), the next logical step was to expand into offering a separate qualification in fitness.

The organisation’s growth and expansion into fitness training for its students developed the need for a purpose built dance- and fitness studio combination. MDG is situated on the grounds of the Musicon in Bloemfontein - a terrain belonging to the Free State Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation. For this reason, MDG is not allowed to erect permanent structures.

The aim of this fundraiser is to buy and convert shipping containers into a non-permanent and movable facility to accommodate an equipped studio. With the increasing popularity of converted shipping containers, it is simple, cost effective and viable option that is also aesthetically pleasing.