SAIBC Ballet coming to R’fontein townships
The main purpose is to train and empower teachers in townships on how to coach dancers in classical ballet.
The South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC) announced a ground-breaking initiative: Training Teachers in the Township Program and they are coming to Randfontein.
This exciting program was initiated by Dirk Badenhorst, CEO of the SAIBC and will be officially launched during May.
The SAIBC has subsequently initiated a program for the Training Teachers in the Townships, the main purpose being to train and empower teachers in townships on how to coach dancers in classical ballet, using the proven Cuban method so well suited to South Africa.
Maria De Los Angeles, based in South Africa for eight months a year, is a full-time Cuban ballet teacher who already teaches in townships and suburbs such as Soweto, Randfontein, Ennerdale and Ekurhuleni.
International ballet competitions like the SAIBC is a haven of knowledge where training techniques is shared among teachers and dancers. Competitors and their teachers benefit from the knowledge of the esteemed panels of judges representing some of the biggest companies and schools in the world with most of them former ballet stars themselves.
A program like the Training Teachers in the Townships is not only a vehicle for empowering our young dancers but also of nation building.
This far sighted program is funded by Mary Slack and has grabbed the imagination to such an extent that several competitors at the 2016 SAIBC, as well as Nikita Boris, an American competitor have donated their prize money back for this program.
There is a lot of untapped dance talent in previously disadvantages communities that deserves the opportunity to be discovered and the Training Teachers in the Townships Program that has produced so many ballet superstars will help our township children to also reach for the stars.
The SAIBC has already handed pamphlets out in the Randfontein community and classes will take place at Randfontein High School (RHS) on
Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at 3pm. No prior ballet training is needed and all boys and girls ages 6 to 12 are welcome.
• Details: Dirk Badenhorst on 083 324 0949.
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