The Matric Dance: A South African Celebration of Dreams and Identity Remember that feeling? The nervous excitement, the perfect outfit, the music pumping. It's Matric dance season! More than just a party, the Matric dance is the highlight of the South African school calendar. This formal dance marks the end of high school and the start of a new chapter. AI image The Cultural Significance of the Matric Dance in South Africa In South Africa, the matric dance is more than just a party—it’s a cultural milestone, a symbolic bridge between youth and adulthood, and a moment that holds deep meaning for students, families, and communities alike. For many, it’s the first formal event of their lives. Months of planning go into finding the perfect outfit, the right hairstyle, and coordinating grand entrances—often with hired cars, professional photographers like Ashleigh Rose Photography, and even red carpets. But beneath the glitz lies something far more profound: the matric dance r...
I photograph events for a living, but it's not the pretty decor or perfect lighting that sticks with me—it's the speeches. The awkward, the heartfelt, the hilarious, and the downright tear-jerking. This piece is a love letter to those moments when someone grabs the mic, ditches the script, and speaks from the heart—reminding us all why we gather in the first place. Whether it’s a 21st birthday or a backyard wedding, a great speech hits harder than any photo ever could. Here's why I live for them—and why every event needs one. Ashleigh Seton-Rogers Look, not only do I love photographing events, but I'm also a sucker for good human-made prose, and nothing beats a great speech at an event, right? Let's be real though—who actually likes public speaking? Very few people in fact it’s probably no. 3 of most people’s phobia – one being fear of spiders and the second, losing one’s phone. While it’s everyone's worst nightmare, I feel it's a must at any decent gathe...
I am always nervous when incorporating something new into a photoshoot, and this particular instance was no different. I was asked if I'd do some pre-matric dance photos for a beautiful young lady the other day. Now that wasn't the difficult part. The part that worried me a little, was that we'd be including two horses! I love horses and think they are majestic creatures, but I've have never had the privilege of photographing one, so the stakes were high. Fortunately our lovely lass handled the setting like a pro, and her equine pals Ronnie and Impi were perfect gentlemen. All-in-all an absolutely stunning photoshoot which will definitely go down as one of my favourites :)
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