School celebrates 20 years

Pro Arte Alphen Park in the east of Pretoria recently celebrated its 20th birthday with almost a week of exciting events, including a gala evening production, a dance production and a picnic for teachers and learners. The school opened its doors in 1994, when the two separate schools Pro Arte (on the premises of Boys High) and the Alphen Park Commercial High School amalgamated. The first principal of the school was Adolf Theron.

“We plan to continue and expand on the road of excellence in our focus areas, to be in line and even ahead of the demands of the professional arts and business worlds,” current principal, Johann Güldenpfennig, said.

The school’s birthday celebrations kicked off with a tree planting ceremony on Thursday. A lavender tree, the tree of the year for 2014, was planted. Learners also sent 100 helium balloons into the air and afterwards cut the huge birthday cake provided for the school.

On Friday, the Pro Arte Alphen Park 20 year Gala Evening was presented at the Pretoria State Theatre, where old and current learners performed. The celebrations continued on Saturday with the school’s production of Absolute Dance 2014, an annual performance at the State Theatre.

Absolute Dance 2014 is a spectacular performance of ballet, jazz and Spanish dance. Celebrations ended on Sunday with a picnic and concert at the Pretoria Botanical Gardens featuring artists like Nic Dinnie of Desmond and the Tutus and Jean de Villiers.