GALLERY: Dancers point toes on their way to competition
BOSKRUIN – Four young dancers make their teachers proud. The dancers believe that they can make a career out of dance.
Four young talented dancers from the Art of Motion dance school in Boskruin has been chosen to compete in the fifth South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC) from 23 to 28 February in Cape Town.
Leroy Mokgatle (16) is the only male dancer from this school who will compete in the competition, and it is his second time competing in it. According to Mokgatle, he will be going to Switzerland on 29 January to perform in the Prix de Lausanne. He was the first South African male to be invited to compete in the last 28 years. He also went to London last year, where he was the first South African to compete in the Geneé International Ballet Competition, and won a gold medal.
Tyla-Amber Spieth (16) competed in New York and took part in the SAIBC in 2014. She said that she prefers the Irish dance style and competed in the Worlds, in Scotland last year. She was the first ever South African girl to receive a recall.
Bobby Strong (16) said that this is her first SAIBC, adding that she prefers to do contemporary dance. “It gives me the chance to inspire other people,” said Strong.
Michaela Fairon (10) will be the youngest dancer to compete in the 2016 SAIBC. “I like contemporary dance, it makes me feel happy,” said Fairon.
According to Strong, they train about eight to nine hours every day, starting at 6am. The dancers explained that they attend academic classes at the studio. One of the teachers, Esmé Harris explained that children from the age of 12 are taught by tutors from Cambridge College in Bryanston. “We have separate academic quarters,” said Harris. To ensure that dancers get the maximum exposure to dance, the studio has five rooms for dancers who choose to board at the studio.
With long hours of training and academics to focus on, these dancers manage to balance their time. “We have a very specific schedule. We dance in the morning and have academics in the afternoon,” said Spieth. Even though they are young themselves, these dancers like to advise young children to believe in themselves. “Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever,” said Spieth. Mokgatle added that one should be determined.
Details: Art of Motion, 083 256 0895.
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