Help Nathi pursue his dream
SUNDOWNER – Nkosinathi Nzima's needs your help to help him pursue his dream to dance on stages all over the world.
Nkosinathi ‘Nathi’ Nzima’s demeanour stands in counterpoint to the winter chill – warm and peaceful.
Nathi first dabbled in dance by chance. Five years later, his love for dance seeps into his rich expression at the mention of the sport. The young star is in need of funds to pursue his dream to dance and get an education at Elite College of Excellence.
In Grade 2, Nathi joined a ballet class to avoid another sport at the primary school he attended at the time. All the way from Kwathema in Springs, Nzima’s ballet teacher heard about Elite and drove him to the audition themselves. After his involvement in the Joburg Ballet Summer school programme it was time for his audition to join Elite. Nathi was awarded a scholarship last year to join the school which offers academic and pre-professional ballet, contemporary and modern dance as part of the curriculum.
“It has been my dream to be on stage and dance for people, so people could watch me,” beamed Nathi.
Lucinda Bossert, teacher, and fellow director explained that due to the struggle to find capital, the scholarship was delayed to this year when directors of Elite made an executive decision to take him on, out of their own pockets ‘by faith’.
The talented dancer’s financial assistance runs out at the end of June and the school welcomes assistance from community members to help Nathi continue with dance and his education. The teenager is a weekly boarder with a host family and visits his grandparents and cousins over the weekend.
Nathi said, “I love the school and the education I get when I’m here… When you have something that doesn’t make you feel okay, usually [dance] makes me feel okay…”
A perfectionist at heart and a hopeful, future doctor, the Grade 7 learner is distressed with marks below 70 per cent on assessments, explained Bossert.
Contact Elite to find out more about the school and how to contribute to Nathi’s education at academichead@eliteballet.co.za or visit the school’s website, www.eliteballet.co.za
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