An enchanted world awaits young ballerinas
Ballet Lai Lai Land was recently launched and offers basic beginner classes for little children in the comfort of their own home.
THE MAGICAL-no-limits-and-anything-is-possible allure of ballet is what makes the art form a first love for Treasure Beach resident, Leagan Peffer. With an endless list of role models in dancing, it was a no brainer that the 31-year-old would turn this hobby into a career.
She has 20 years of dancing experience under her belt, nine of those as a resident dancer at the Playhouse, and is CEO and managing director of KZN Dance Productions, a senior dancer at Phakama Dance Theatre, a mentor at the Phakama Training Company as well as the ballet teacher at the Phakama Dance Academy based the Playhouse Theatre.
This self-confessed workaholic said the lockdown came as a blessing in disguise for her as it afforded her the time to see her personal dance project launch.
“I needed a time out. The lockdown gave me time to restore. It gave me the time I needed to dedicate myself to Ballet Lai Lai Land. I was finally able to focus on one thing at a time,” she said.
“I’ve performed in many productions and festivals around the country and have been very blessed. The aim now is to give back, promote up-and-coming youth and give them a chance to reach their dreams. Dance should be accessible to all children even in these difficult times.”
True to her word, Leagan’s 2016 project, Ballet Lai Lai Land, finally came into fruition when it was recently launched. Mostly filmed in her parents’ garage, it is a platform that offers the accessibility of dance through free weekly online lessons and exclusive membership equipped with basic beginner classes for little children in the comfort of their own home.
The enchanted land of becoming is centered around a little child who has always dreamed of being a ballerina. The role is filled by Mackenzy Julius and begins when her phone opens to a library, where she finds a golden book and every time she opens it, is transported to the magical land.
“It’s been a long road and there is still so much more to do. But once we got in front of the camera it was like being on stage again.”
“The amount of energy and effort to get the right shot took a long time and the editing process was tedious. Mackenzy was 4-years-old when we first started filming and I must commend her for an excellent work ethic. She is going to do great things when she grows up.”
“As the years went on, we added characters. I then found the need to use Nqubeko Ngema to be our hip-hop jester. He is an incredible artist who is becoming an amazing hip-hop instructor and understands children and they love his hip-hop lessons. It just shows that anything really is possible.”
“My family has always been an incredible support for me. Words cannot express what they mean to me. Any career that you decide to do is challenging. Being an entrepreneur and an artist is crazy. But if you are willing to put the work in, there is no telling how far you can go.”
“The key is not to give up. If you really want something, you will make it work. Don’t be afraid of being different. We all have the opportunity to do more, to be more, it lives in each of us. Our circumstances should not hold us back but should inspire us. Every person has the potential to be great. Remember, everything you need is already in you. You are enough,” said Leagan.
Click on the link to become a member of the Ballet Lai Lai Land, or like the page on Facebook for regular updates.
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