“Everyone thought that it was just a little girl’s dream but I always wanted to be a ballerina.”
Jessica Lombard (18) made this dream a reality and is currently in her aspirant year at the Joburg Ballet company.
According to Lombard, being an aspirant dancer means that she is almost in an audition year. “The company takes a close look at me during this year and decides if they want to make me a permanent member,” explained Lombard.
This young lady, with her long wavy hair, that one would imagine fits perfectly into a ballerina bun, said that she began with tap dancing when she was four. “I only started doing ballet when I was 12, which is quite a late age for ballet,” said Lombard. Lombard will be dancing in the upcoming Les Sylphides at the [Roodepoort Theatre ]. This work is a part of the Ballets for Winter collection of three contemporary and classical works showcasing South Africa’s world-class ballet company, Joburg Ballet.
A corps de ballet member is one of the dancers that are usually part of the group that dances in the background. “I want to be a principal dancer in the future. My dream role is being Juliet in the Romeo and Juliet ballet,” said Lombard. She will be part of the corps de ballet in this ballet in July.
Getting up every day and starting the brutal exercise programme every day can be hard.
“The senior dancers motivate you. We look up to them because we want to be on their level one day,” said Lombard. She explained that they practice for about eight hours every day and with the help of physiotherapists and the necessary motivation it is easy to get up again despite injuries. “I would advise young dancers to just keep going, even if they experience disappointment. If you don’t get cast in a role, just keep going,” concluded Lombard.
Details: Joburg Ballet, 011 877 6898.
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