From a 4-year-old acrobat to bringing Zingara’s magic to life - EWN

Long before Samantha Kotze was helping bring the magic of The Royal Countess Zingara to life on stage, she was a young girl from Welkom in the Free State, discovering a love for movement, dance and acrobatics.

By the age of 11, that passion had taken her to the level of South African acrobatic champion.

Today, Kotze is a Stage Manager, Repetiteur and aerialist at The Royal Countess Zingara at Melrose Arch, where she works behind and on the stage to help create an experience that transports audiences into another world.

But her journey began with headstands and rolly pollys — much to the amusement of her ballet teacher.

“I started acrobatics at the age of four, after which my ballet teacher suggested my headstands and rolly pollys wouldn't work for the ballet adjudicators,” Kotze recalls with a laugh.

That moment ultimately pointed her towards the discipline that would shape her life.

“I fell in love with acrobatics immediately.”

Dance soon followed, with Kotze exploring modern, hip hop, freestyle and contemporary dance.

Her natural ability and dedication quickly became evident, and by the age of 11 she had already become a South African acrobatic champion.