Taekwondo set to thrill globe with 'karate dance'

Dimakatso Motau

HE ONCE sold fruit and vegetables to survive, but Thabo Seabi has now landed a spot in the Michael Jackson HIStory 2 theatre production.

Seabi, better known as Taekwondo, said: "I was recruited through a rigorous auditioning process, but I had my final audition in Australia in June".

Seabi, who hails from Gauteng, said it was not easy to make the cut as dancers from around the globe auditioned.

The show is touring South Africa.

Referring to his nickname, Taekwondo, he said: "I was in primary school when I started attending karate classes to stay away from the bad things on the streets."

He said it was only in high school that a teacher found him dancing and encouraged him to pursue it.

"I was in a circle and danced my soul away and did not know that I could do this professionally."

After matric he was forced to sell fruit and vegetables to make a living. Through his small business he started forming local dance groups.

"Though I never got formal training I used to attend workshops at Moving Into Dance in Newtown and other workshops in Pretoria. This led me to work on shows like Umoja, The Ghetto and the Hip Hop Holiday show."

HIStory 2 producer Johnny van Grinsven said: "Seabi's karate- influenced moves make a lot of difference to the show."

Seabi said he was excited that after South Africa, the show would tour Dubai, Canada and the United States.