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Third Year, two disciplines: Nina Petersen on OT and hip-hop
20 August 2026 | Video Production Ruairi Abrahams and Nomfundo Xolo Photo Ruairi Abrahams.For UCT Occupational Therapy student and professional hip-hop dancer Nina Petersen, movement is more than a performance – it is a way of understanding people, building relationships and creating meaning.
Now in her third year of study, Petersen balances academic life and clinical training with competitions, rehearsals and teaching dance. She says studying occupational therapy has broadened her understanding of how people’s health is shaped not only by illness, but also by their circumstances, relationships and everyday lives.
The event also featured a new Career Conversation Corner, where students could ask employers questions about career pathways and how their degrees translate into the workplace, alongside a CV Lab offering personalised CV reviews and spaces designed to encourage connection and engagement.
Her training has also influenced the way she teaches young dancers, helping her become more attentive to their different ages, experiences and emotional needs.
While Petersen is still deciding where her career will take her: whether through occupational therapy, dance or a combination of both, she encourages young women entering university not to abandon the passions they had before they began studying.
#UCT #UniversityOfCapeTown #StudentLife #OccupationalTherapy #HipHopDance #UCTStudents #WomenInDance #WomenInSTEM
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