Youth ballet company celebrates 40 years
JOBURG - The Johannesburg Youth Ballet celebrates 40 years of dance.
In honour of its 40-year anniversary, The Johannesburg Youth Ballet will stage a gala season not to be missed.
From 14 to 16 October the ballet company will stage A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Other Ballets during its 40th anniversary gala season at the Joburg Theatre. Speaking at the official launch of the season, the chairperson of the company, Jean Beckley acknowledged the importance of this anniversary. “The 40th-anniversary milestone and The Johannesburg Youth Ballet can be justly proud,” she said.
“Over the years, we’ve had many contributions from various people. This journey has been achieved through years of hard work and dedication from numerous people, including teachers, set designers, parents of the members and lovers of dance, in general.”
Mark Hawkins and Andrew Botha – also in attendance at the launch – are the contributors responsible for the choreography and re-imagining of the Shakespearean play, as well as the set designs and costumes. Putting together a season of this magnitude, for such a momentous occasion is no simple feat, and the company even called on a top achiever in the industry, Mary Ann de Wet, to teach and guide the young dancers during the season.
The company is the oldest youth ballet organisation in South Africa and has given more than 1 500 young people the opportunity to form part of a professional dance company – many of whom have gone on to dance around the world. The company, funded by the National Arts Council, exists on the principle, paying-it-forward and the company is eager to do just that, when the season begins.
“As recipients of funding, we need to identify less privileged communities with whom they can share with by finding opportunities to teach, so we look forward to paying it forward this season by ensuring that many young dancers from deserving and underserved communities are seated in the theatre as the curtain goes up on A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Other Ballets,” said Brenda Sakellarides from The Johannesburg Youth Ballet.
With three weeks of training to go, the company is sure to be at its best for the opening of the season – don’t miss it.
Also read: Joburg Ballet CEO urges the public to embrace the company
Like City Buzz on facebook by clicking here for the best entertainment and lifestyle news or add us on twitter @CityBuzzJHB
