“I like the way they all work together and have dance moves that no other team here today has developed”, says one of the judges of the Scrutinize dance competition in Cato Manor’s Wiggins Hall. Friday the 2nd July was the day Cato Manor youth will remember for a long time, since this day marked the very first Scrutinize dance competition in that area.

Dance groups from the community ascended upon Wiggins hall that Friday to prove that they have what it takes to be the Scrutinize dance champions. Unfortunately there could only be one winner and the group that took home the dance trophy were aptly called, “The Champions”. The runners up were known as “The Butterflies” and they were an all girl dance group who wowed the crowds with their flighty dance moves. “In order to win you need to Scrutinize the competition, know their strengths and try to beat them”, said a dance group member. This is true in life, if we are to beat HIV we need to Scrutinize it’s moves and know how it operates then try to beat it.

So, when the youth gathered in the hall to watch the dancing screamed for their favourite group and were entertained by them, they also had the opportunity to Scrutinize their moves. Knowing your opponent means knowing more about how they operate, the risk game run by the KZN youth Empowerment Project members, gave participants an opportunity to know HIV’s moves and to find out more about what puts them at risk of contracting the virus.

“Is it high risk or low risk to use drugs and alcohol?” asks the MC, “Low Risk!” shouts the crowd. An emphasis on the dangers of drugs and alcohol amongst youth was highlighted as hindrances to achieving your dreams, dreams of becoming famous dancers perhaps? How knows? The possibilities are endless. And after this dance competition, HIV will be chacha’d straight through the door because the Cato Manor youth already know its’ moves.