Alexandra, Braamfontein and Soweto children get an introduction to dance.
Joburg Ballet is passionate about dance and while they love to put on all their fantastic shows like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, they’re also passionate about grooming the youth to become active members of the arts and culture communities.
Creating these active members starts by engaging with the youth in three townships across Gauteng, through their development programme, Joburg Ballet Satellite Schools.
Fiona Brown heads up the development programme at the company and is excited about next year’s programme and what it offers.
“The development programme is, firstly, a means of allowing the children to experience the joys of ballet and we also use it as a means to find future local talent, and an added benefit of the programme is that we get children quite excited about dance and wanting to come and see the ballet,” she said.
“So, hopefully, when they grow up they will also want to be an audience that wants to continue to work within the ballet field or if they can’t become dancers… they might find careers in the theatre.”
Auditions for the programme are held annually in October, and the company sees masses of eager children on audition days, but can only accommodate 250 in total, from the three areas, between the ages of six and 12.
While it is not every day that one sees a ballerina develop from a previously disadvantaged area such as Alex, Braamfontein or Soweto, Brown explained that the turnout at auditions is usually overwhelming.
“What we’re finding more and more is that through television the children are aware of the ballet, so when we hold auditions the uptake is very fast.”
PRETTY: Young girls live out their dreams and develop their passion.
Exceptionally talented youth are put forward to the Joburg Ballet School for further training and development in hopes of one day becoming part of the professional company.
Auditions will be held on 24 October at the National School of Arts in Braamfontein, 25 October at San Kapano in Alexandra and 26 October at Uncle Tom’s in Soweto.
Interested parents should contact Brown via SMS, WhatsApp or phone call.
