South Africa Tourism partnered with viral video star Matt Harding to launch a South African Soccer-themed dance contest with a grand prize of a trip to the World Cup in June. Contestants create and submit videos of themselves dancing the Diski Dance, a dance based on the moves of South African soccer players. South African Tourism created the contest as part of a marketing campaign to showcase the warm, fun-loving spirit of the South African people, who will soon welcome the world for the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer championship, which will be held in cities across South Africa. To get the word out, SAT turned to Harding (aka Dancing Matt). On March 5, Harding will debut his own Diski Dance promotional video on his YouTube channel and at www.southafrica.net/dance . He will also welcome participants to get their Diski on and take a chance at winning a trip to attend a 2010 World Cup soccer match in Cape Town, South Africa. Prize trip dates are June 6 to July 1.
Harding traveled to South Africa in January with South African Tourism and South African Airways, to shoot his Diski video. In it, he visits a series of sites that showcase the country in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Kruger and beyond. In each location, Harding shows off his trademark moves, but feels the rhythm of South Africa while dancing the Diski. Audiences are then encouraged to visit the South African Tourism microsite and get in on the action by uploading their own Diski Dances, for a chance to visit South Africa during the World Cup. The deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. April 25. "Matt Harding represented exactly what we were looking for with this contest," said Sthu Zungu, president of South African Tourism, North America. "His videos have earned him millions and millions of followers around the world. Watching him just makes you want to dance, and we think he is the perfect person to encourage people to dance the Diski. With his help, one lucky winner will be dancing the Diski all the way to South Africa."
South African Airways, the national carrier of South Africa and a sponsor of the contest, offers daily nonstop service from the U.S. to South Africa with morning departures from New York JFK, and afternoon direct service from Washington Dulles (with a stop in Dakar, Senegal) that offer travel convenience and award-winning service. Premium Business Class has 180-degree flat-bed seats. For more information on South African Airways, call 800-722-9675 or visit www.flysaa.com. For more information on South Africa, call 800-593-1318 or visit www.southafrica.net/2010.
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