Portuguese Dance Society of Johannesburg

Under the leadership of Octavio Henriques, 40 enthusiastic foliões, most of whom had the skill set of trapalhões, put their hands up and accepted the invitation. The group had members from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Boy, oh boy! Accepting that invitation was probably one of the best decisions of our lives. We felt like celebrities and were treated like family. Dancing in the drizzle, waiting in queues for our next instructions and enduring aching feet simply didn't matter. It was an unforgettable experience that will stay with us forever.

We were changed forever, and returning home after all the glitz and glamour seemed rather boring. There was a void. We had caught the performing bug! The troupe was divided: some wanted to keep performing, while others believed we would never be able to replicate the fun and celebrity status we had experienced in Madeira. They felt the carnival had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Then our dear Mariazinha Gonçalves passed away. The troupe was at sixes and sevens. Should we continue, or should we find comfort in our memories?

On Women's Day, 9 August 2023, we held a brainstorming session and decided to continue. A non-profit company was registered on 6 October 2023, and the next chapter of our story began.

As older Portuguese women living in South Africa, many of us are matriarchs and influencers who believe we have an obligation to preserve our traditions and culinary heritage. We are proudly South African, but every fibre of our being is Portuguese. We feel it is our responsibility to preserve our legacy and pass it on to future generations: our children and our children's children.

The best way we know how is to spread joy and love by dancing to contemporary Portuguese music, while honouring our generation through good deeds and service to others.

Our dance repertoire

• Maria Joana, sung by Calema, choreographed by Paulo Amaro. This love song captures the emotions and pain of being separated from a loved one: someone who brings comfort and makes life feel complete. For our troupe, it evokes nostalgia and a longing to feel closer to our Motherland, its values, symbols and traditions.
• Preço Certo, sung by Pedro Mafama, choreographed by Paulo Amaro. This song expresses gratitude and celebrates life. It is about sending kisses to those who are no longer with us, those who are yet to come, and those we treasure in the present. It celebrates the simple pleasures that make life worthwhile and reminds us of the importance of connection, happiness, dancing, kissing and embracing every moment.
• Rainha do TikTok, sung by Miguel Azevedo, choreographed by Paulo Amaro. This carefree song encourages confidence, fun and a positive attitude, reminding us not to let anything bring us down. It celebrates being the centre of attention and enjoying the limelight. Like a star, the woman in the song captivates everyone around her, lighting up her surroundings with her energy.
• We Are One (Olé, Olá), sung by Pitbull, featuring Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte, choreographed by Victor Henriques. This song is about bringing people together across cultures and backgrounds. It conveys joy, celebration and excitement, reminding us of the power of unity through music and dance.
• A Nossa Dança, sung by Calema, choreographed by Paulo Amaro. A love song about shared experiences, connection and the emotions that bind a couple together. It highlights the beauty of being together, with the couple asking God for the strength to preserve what they have.
• Portugal a Bailar, sung by Cláudia Nayara, choreographed by Paulo Amaro. Full of energy, this song and dance express celebration, victory, joy and triumph. It is a proud expression of Portuguese identity and heritage.
• Essa Mulher, sung by Nuno Ribeiro, choreographed by Paulo Amaro. The singer serenades a particular woman, captivated by her beauty, longing to be close to her and to take her somewhere free of worries. The song is also a tribute to women as a whole, celebrating, respecting and valuing them.
• Bailinho da Madeira (Remix), remixed by DJ Fastronics, choreographed by Isabella Gomes and Victor Henriques. This song and dance take us back to our roots, celebrating Madeira, our paradise in the Atlantic Ocean, a place filled with love, pride and nostalgia.

Our performances and community involvement

We have had the honour of performing at social gatherings in Bloemfontein and Magaliesburg.

Invitations to perform at churches are always an honour. We have performed in Germiston, Mayfair, Brentwood Park, Malvern and Vanderbijlpark. We also have a special devotion to Mother Mary, and through our performances we have shared her grace in Brakpan, Welkom, Secunda and Benoni.

Portuguese clubs are among our favourite places to perform. União, Núcleo de Arte e Cultura in Witbank, Casa dos Poveiros, Casa da Madeira Pretoria and Casa da Madeira Alberton have always welcomed us with open arms.

We had a wonderful time performing at the Cape Town Carnival 2026, where we joined our sister organisation, the Dance Society of Cape Town. It was a truly memorable experience.

Our journey and our mission

Often we pinch ourselves and ask, "How did we get here?" How could one decision, made in late 2022, change our lives so profoundly?

We pride ourselves on being a volunteer organisation focused on spreading Orgulho Portuguese in an often chaotic world.

As women, we have been challenged, stretched and encouraged to grow in confidence. Along the way, we have met beautiful people and built meaningful connections within our community.

We are proud of our mission to give back to the community that has given us so much. We have been fortunate to have the support of the Portuguese diaspora in South Africa, and we remain committed to paying that support forward.

We are rooted in Faith, Family, Food, Folk Music and Festivals. Our upbringing gives us a unique story to tell, and we proudly express that story through dance, cultural traditions and charitable deeds.

Contact the society at info@pdsj.co.za or follow them on TikTok.