Meyersdal dancer to compete in ballet competition

Miguel Franco-Green (16) will be competing at the ninth South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC) to be held at Artscape, Cape Town, later this month.

Meyersdal’s Miguel knew from the age of five that his future was in classical ballet and contemporary dance.

He entered the SAIBC last year online in the junior section and scooped two medals. He won the gold for his contemporary solo and placed second in the classical section.

Other dance achievements include being a Royal Academy of Dance advanced one bursary winner (2022), plus being awarded a distinction in his advanced two ballet exam this year.

According to publicist Allison Foat, even at a tender age, Miguel has been cast in numerous professional dance productions.

“Such as Mzansi Ballet’s sellout hit called The Queen Show, Joburg Ballet’s The Nutcracker and more recently that company’s production of La Traviata. He is a fine example that with the right attitude, determination and phenomenal training, which he receives from Natasha Ireland and Angela and Michael Revie, overcoming the most challenging times is possible,” she said.

With a love of art, horse riding and family, she said Miguel is a full-time homeschooler and wholly committed to his future.

Miguel said last year’s double medal win at the prestigious SAIBC was a goal that he had been working towards for a long time.

“I never go in expecting to win, but to compete against myself in a way and getting that validation with the medals from an incredible international jury panel means I am on the right track. I am now moving up into the senior section and I know I’ll learn and grow from this experience in many ways, not just technically,” he said.

He said he is so proud to be a part of the SAIBC family and to have received this opportunity.