Destined For Greatness

He’s the first black South African male dancer on Strictly Come Dancing and a representative of the LGBTQ community. Johannes Radebe’s shattering stereotypes.

- Thobeka Phanyeko

Born and raised in sasolburg, the 33-year-old star’s love and passion for dance are what elevated him to international pro status, but his journey hasn’t always been easy. Bullied as a child, he says dance became his place of refuge. ‘Although the criticism and bullying were bad, I learnt to ignore the noise. There were only two places where I felt safe: at home and at dance practice,’ he says. So, that’s where he spent most of his time – where he felt nurtured, protected and reminded of his greatness.

GQ: Do you still remember the moment you fell in love with dance?

Johannes Radebe: In my culture, everybody can dance, but it wasn’t until I discovered ballroom and Latin dancing that I completely fell in love with it. At the time, I was more attracted to what the dancers wore than dancing itself. That was until I learnt a series of steps of the cha-cha. I took part in my first competition, and I never looked back.

GQ: Are you formally trained or self-taught?

JR: A bit of both. Teachers nurtured my talent, but it was ultimately left to me as I couldn’t afford to have lessons regularly. In the end, it was up to me to choose whether I wanted to develop the skills I’d learnt in class, and I did.

GQ: When did you decide to pursue a career as a dancer and choreographer?