Three Ballito dancers leapt into the spotlight at the recent KZN Mabel Ryan Award competition, showcasing local talent on a stage of international prestige.

The honour of winning the 2025 award went to 12-year-old Ashton International College Ballito pupil Hanna van den Barselaar-Smith from Studio K, who impressed adjudicators with her poise and stamina in the gruelling competition.

Fellow Ballito dancers, representing the Ballito Performing Arts Centre, Savannah Paterson (13) from Umhlali Prep and Laycey Mulder (12) from Ashton, also qualified to compete, with Savannah taking the runner-up position.

Hanna’s teacher is Savana Perry and Savannah and Laycey are trained by Michelle Nesbitt.

Only seven girls across KZN were selected for this year’s competition, after achieving over 75% in their recent Grade 5 Cecchetti ballet examinations.

Competitors were required to repeat their entire syllabus in front of two adjudicators and an audience, performing for more than an hour in a demanding test of stamina, precision and artistry.

For Hanna, the award represents the fulfilment of a long-held dream. Four years ago, at her first Cecchetti Gala Performance, she was inspired after watching a soloist on the same Playhouse stage. When she discovered that the dancer was the Mabel Ryan Award winner, she set her sights on achieving the same honour.

The event followed immediately after the MOVE Regional Dance Competition, held from August 28 to 31, where the three dancers also achieved excellent results.

Hanna placed first in Ballet and Open in the Gold Section, second in Jazz and Lyrical in the Gold Section and qualified for Contemporary at Gold level.

Savannah took first place in Jazz and Demi-Character Ballet in the Gold Section, qualified for Contemporary at Gold level and won Lyrical in the Silver Section.

Laycey claimed first place in Jazz in the Silver Section, second in Lyrical in the Gold Section for a duet and first in Contemporary in the Gold Section for a trio.

The Mabel Ryan Award is awarded annually in regions across the world where the Cecchetti Method of ballet is taught.

With this achievement, Hanna joins the ranks of dancers who have made their mark on the Cecchetti stage, while Savannah and Laycey’s strong performances confirm the depth of talent emerging from the Performing Arts Centre.

Hanna was also scheduled to compete for South Africa at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, USA, in July this year, but the competition was postponed due to civil unrest in the area at the time.

• Note: This story has been updated from that which appeared in print and in the initial online version. It was incorrectly reported that all three girls were from Ballito Performing Arts Centre, but Hanna van den Barselaar-Smith represents Studio K.

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