Dr Ellen Roux going strong at the helm of Sacopa

The South African Championships of Performing Arts (Sacopa) is celebrating 25 years of helping local talent grow.

At its helm, Dr Ellen Roux has grown Sacopa into what it is today.

Roux told Rekord that building the legacy was not easy.

“To have a success story, you have to be able to work hard,” she said.

“You always have time for your contestants and parents, to work together with your staff, have respect, and integrity. Always be honest; not only to yourself, but to your clients as well. Always believe in yourself and love what you are doing.”

Roux is the national director for Sacopa, which was her brainchild.

But she is also the president of the South African Association of Talent, Modelling and Entertainment (SAATME), the license holder of The World Championships of Performing Arts, and founder of Beyond 2000.

In these, she aims to build platforms for young potential artists to find true career-starting opportunities.

“As long as I have the power and good health to go on, I will do the same as the past 25 years,” promised Roux.

For her contributions, she was honoured in 2001 by being inducted into the Performing Arts Hall of Fame in Los Angeles, an honour shared by famous artists such as Dolly Parton and Liza Minelli.

Over the years, she has seen many names walk through her doors. What keeps her going is “to see that the young contestants become famous film stars or vocalists that signed contracts not only in South Africa but also internationally”.

“My dream and goal are to develop many more famous stars of tomorrow.

“I believe in myself and I am doing what I love and what I live for. One of the major challenges that the contestants experienced is the financial support from the government or the private sector. More of the youth of South Africa can have the opportunity to become famous if they have a support system financially.”

Roux is known for her dynamic, active, self-motivated and vibrant approach to her work, but also her humility, rather than using her energy to put others in the spotlight instead of herself.

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