Talent in a tutu
FOURWAYS- Cassidy Ries, a 15-year-old ballet dancer from Fourways has been selected to represent South Africa at the prestigious South African International Ballet Competition.
The competition that will take place from 17 to 23 February at the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town is Africa’s only international ballet competition. It is held every two years and attracts ballet stars and stars-in-the-making from around the globe.
Ries, a vocational student at Randburg’s Christian School of the Arts will be competing in the scholar age category. She is the current South African Ballet Junior Champion and the South African Modern Dance Junior Champion, and has held one or both of these titles for four consecutive years.
“I am very blessed to be accepted to participate in the competition and am honoured to represent my country,” she said.
Reis rehearses regularly with Joburg Ballet and practises 36 hours a week at her school.
Although still young, she has already been cast in four Joburg Ballet productions and is also a member of the Joburg Ballet Academy.
Ivana Ries, principal of the art school and Cassidy’s mother said, “It is a great privilege for our ballet students to be associated with Joburg Ballet and equally to compete with some of the world’s best dancers. Each competition affords a wonderful opportunity for further growth. Ballet is alive and well in Johannesburg and
growing across the board at a heartening rate.”
