Caitlin Smith
Caitlin was born in 1993 in East London, South Africa.
She began her Ballet training at age eight with Kati Ansell at Christian Dance Academy.
She was trained in the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) method, and passed all her graded and vocational exams with Distinction, receiving further coaching from Jacqui Wells for her Advanced 1 and 2 exams.
In 2008 Caitlin won the RAD's Border regional panel’s Intermediate bursary, as well as the Advanced 2 bursary in 2010.
In 2011 Caitlin entered the Adeline Geneè International Ballet competition, and competed as a semi finalist.
Caitlin joined the SABT's Graduate program in 2012.
Davonne La Grange
Davonne started her ballet training at age seven at the Karlien Hugo Studio in the East Rand, Gauteng. She received distinctions for all her Royal Academy of Dance examinations from Primary to Advanced Level 2.
Davonne was a regular participant in the East Rand Dance Festival between 2000 and 2008, where she won various sections including the East Rand Dance Festival Championship in 2008. She participated in various RAD Bursaries and has won the Intermediate Bursary in 2006, and was Runner-Up for the Advanced 1 Bursary in 2007.
In 2005 Davonne was accepted into The South African Ballet Academy where she also took part in the Val Whyte Bursary that same year. In 2009 she took part in the national Adeline Geneè Ballet Competition in Cape Town, and later that year she traveled to Singapore to take part in the international Adeline Geneè Ballet Competition where she was a semi-finalist.
In 2009 she also successfully auditioned for The South African Ballet Theatre’s Graduate Program where she performed in productions such as ‘Carmen-the Ballet’ and ‘The Nutcracker’..
Emma Campbell
Emma was born in Kimberly in 1991 and started ballet training at age three. During her schooling years, she trained with teachers such as Suzanne Holmes, Paula Oliver, Nigel Hannah, Sue Kirkland, Christopher Montague, Tanja Graafland and the Montoyas.
She went to Cornwall Hill College followed by Pro Arte Alphen Park, where she undertook dance (specialising in ballet in matric) as her focus area. She performed in roles such as the Fairy of the Golden Vine in ‘The Sleeping Beauty’, Swanhilda in ‘Coppélia’ and a solo role in a jazz piece of the schools annual production. At Pro Arte she was a prefect (both school and hostel), obtained her colours and the trophy for Perseverance in Dance and matriculated academically top in her year with five distinctions.
Emma was also a member of YDCT and performed in their seasons of ‘The Nutcracker’ (including a solo role in Waltz of the Flowers), ‘La Source’, ‘Paquita’, ‘Cinderella’, ‘Vivaldi the Four Seasons’ and ‘Les Sylphide’. She has completed all of her RAD examinations and has both her bronze and silver medals in ballroom and Latin American dancing in addition to her UNISA Grade 3 Piano. During this time she also took part in leading roles as an actress in the Pretoria Youth Theatre and participated in the Pretoria Dance Eisteddfod.
After matriculating, Emma spent two years studying a degree in Dance at TUT ending with six distinctions after her second year under the direction of Debra Gush and Chanel Gomes and completed a number of various practical (including ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, African and body conditioning/Pilates) and theoretical (anatomy, history and music) subjects. In their dance seasons and productions she performed a Blue Girl in ‘Les Patineurs’, a soloist role in ‘Ha!’ and in ‘Precious things and Story Time’.
Emma joined the SABT as a Graduate in January 2012.
Kanja Grobler
Kanja was born in Johannesburg and started dancing at age four. Her private teachers included Cecchetti teachers Lindsay Fothergill and Diana Ward – Hull. She was a member of the Johannesburg Youth Ballet training with Jean Beckley and several guest teachers.
Kanja attended the National Scholl of the Arts (NSA) from 2007 to 2009 where she studied ballet, jazz, contemporary and Spanish dance. Her teachers included Eric Bowen, Vyvyan Lorrayne, Rhoda Rhivkind, Manual Noram, Lauren Jones and Gillian Bonegio.
She performed the lead in NSA’s Carmen with guest artist Kevin Hurter. She also toured with NSA to the National Arts Festival. Kanja received her full colours on Dance and was awarded the trophy for ‘Best Ballet Dancer’ in her matric year.
Kanja joined The South African Ballet Theatre’s (SABT)Academy where she was trained by Jenny Barlow. In 2010, she was accepted into SABT’s Graduate programme and appeared on stage with the Company in Swan Lake, Carmen – the Ballet and The Nutcracker. She was accepted in the corps de ballet in 2011.
Kaylee McGinn
Kaylee was born in 1993 and has been doing acrobatics since the age of two, as well as ballet, modern and rhythmic gymnastics from the age of five.
She is a regular participant in the America Dance Awards competing and performing internationally.
Kaylee has completed from her Royal Academy of Dance examinations from Pre Primary to Advanced1 and is currently training for her Advanced 2 examination. She has also completed her acrobatics examinations from Pre Primary to Associate Two, and Modern from Grade 1 to Grade 8. She is currently training for her Modern dance Grade 10 and Associate 1 examinations.
Kaylee’s has performed with the Johannesburg Youth Ballet (JYB) as well as the Roodepoort Youth Ballet and Ballet Bugs. She joined the SABT Graduate programme in 2012.
Lerato Letlape
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Lerato Letlape was born in Alexandra, north east of Johannesburg. He started his dancing at age thirteen as a street dancer specialising in hip hop. He then studied contemporary dance and ballet. His teachers include, amongst others, Mandla Mchunu, Penelope Molfessis, Penelope Thloloe, Gladys Agulhas, Jean Beckley, Nigel Hannah and Kristin Wilson.
In 2006, he joined Ikasi Ballet remaining with the Company until 2008. That same year he performed in ‘Body Grooves’ at the South African State Theatre with David Matamela and Salome Sechele. In March 2007, he performed on the FNB Dance Umbrella’s New Moves programme in a work titled ‘Sights and Scenes’. In September 2007 he participated in the Cultural Calabash festival in the North West province as a workshop facilitator as well as the ‘Women in the Arts’ dialogue launched by former first lady Mrs. Zanele Mbeki. He also performed extracts from ‘Giselle’ and ‘Polovtsian Dances’ with the Johannesburg Youth Ballet.
In March 2008 he once again performed at the FNB Dance Umbrella, this time on the Fringe programme in a collaborative work with the Soweto Dance Project. In April 2008 he joined the Gumboots Foundation for performances at the Dance Factory followed by performances of ‘Gilgade’ in June choreographed by Mandla Mcunu. Lerato also appeared in the State Theatre Youth Expression Festival with Merethetho Productions from Alexandra and in the ‘Dance Web’ showcase for Craig and Mandy Bullock. He has shared the stage with Abigail Kubeka and HHP at the annual South African Film and Television Awards.
In 2010, he successfully auditioned for The South African Ballet Theatre’S Graduate programme performing with the company in ‘Swan Lake’ , ‘Carmen-the Ballet’ at the Joburg Theatre as well as ‘The Nutcracker’ in Pretoria.
Monique Fivaz
Monique started her ballet training at age six in the Cecchetti method with Anneliese Venter.
She received honours for all her examinations including a distinction for her Advanced II examination.
Monique was placed runner up at the Cecchetti regional awards for Intermediate Foundation level and winner for Intermediate.
From 2008 to 2009 Monique danced with the Johannesburg Youth Ballet, performing in‘Les Sylphide’. In 2009 she was awarded two merits for dance and drama at St Stithians Girls College and was awarded best choreographer. In that same year, she participated in FNB’s Dance Umbrella as a lead role in a physical theatre piece choreographed by Taryn Schreuder.
In 2011, Monique appeared in both seasons of SABT’s ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ at the Joburg Theatre and the South African State Theatre, as well for David Matamela.
Monique joined the SABT Graduate programme in 2012.
Nerine Frambs
Nerine started ballet lessons at age three at the Louise Verster School of Ballet. She trained with Karlien Hugo completing her Royal Academy of Dance Advanced 2 examination. She was a regular competitor at the East Rand Dance Festival between 2002 and 2011.
Nerine was accepted into the Junior Val Whyte Bursary competition in 2005 and the following year participated in The South African Ballet Theatre’s production of ‘The Nutcracker’ as a soldier.
In 2008, she performed in the Roodepoort Youth Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ and was accepted into the Johannesburg Youth Ballet (JYB) in 2009 performing an excerpt from ‘The Nutcracker’ and ‘Swan Lake’ .
In 2012, Nerine successfully auditioned for SABT's Graduate Programme.
Nonkululeko Ndwandwe
Nonkululeko was born in 1992 in Westville, Kwa-Zulu Natal and was introduced to classical ballet at pre-primary school BY Karen Drake.
In 2002 she attended Crawford School La Lucia where classical ballet was offered as a subject under Megan Lamb. Ms Lamb also taught Nonkululeko privately offering classical ballet, modern dance and tap tuition. Nonkululeko participatedin several eisteddfods and competitions with Ms Lamb’s Durban.Dance.Unlimited studio winning the studio’s bursary competition and medals for tap and modern dance. Nonkululeko continued her ballet training completing her Royal Academy of Dance Grade 5 with Winsome Fuller with distinction.
When Nonkululeko relocated to Johannesburg she enrolled at the Kariena Olivier & Margaret –Wells Dance Exchange where she continued her training in ballet, modern dance and tap, receiving distinction for her modern dance examination.
In 2010, Nonkululeko completed the SABT Winter School, an intensive ‘ballet bootcamp at the Company’s studios and the following year successfully auditioned for the SABT Graduate programme. As a Graduate, she appeared in productions such as ‘Romeo & Juliet’ and ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ and also appeared in a tribute to AlbertinaSisulu for DSTV, choreographed by Tracy Lawson.
Roxanne Smith
Roxanne started training in the Cecchetti method of ballet with Anneliese Venter at the age of five. She has received honours for all grade and major exams and passed her advanced II exam with distinction.
Roxanne has danced with both the SABT Academy (2010-2011) and the Johannesburg Youth Ballet (2008-2011) where she most recently danced the role of Wendy in Mark Hawkin’s Ballet, ‘Peter Pan’. Roxanne has won the Natalie Stern award for the most artistic dancer at the Cecchetti vocational awards twice (2010 and 2011) and was also the winner of the Winner of Grade 5 (2007), Advanced I (2010) and Advanced II (2011) awards.
Roxanne has also danced in the Concours de Ballet festival for nine years and has been the three times winner (2009, 2010 and 2011) of the Poppy Frames Scholarship Set Dance for 16 years and over, the winner of the trophy for the most promising dancer 13 years and over (2011), winner of the trophy for the overall most outstanding performance (2009), as well as the winner of the trophy for the most pleasing personality (2007).
Roxanne attended St Teresa’s school from grades 0 to 12 and has passed matric with six distinctions. She joined the SABT Graduate programme in 2012.
Ruth De Borchgrave
Ruth was born in 1993in Mpumalanga, Nelspruit. Ruth started dancing around the age of seven, with Shirley Ric-Hansen's Ballet studio.
She participated in numerous studio shows and eisteddfods under the mentorship of Ms Ric-Hansen and also completed her RAD examinations up to Intermediate level.
Ruth joined the SABT Graduate programme in 2012.
Thabang Mabaso
Born in Johannesburg, Thabang grew up in Sterkfontein area of the Limpopo province as well as in Orange Farm. He started his dance training at age fifteen under the tutelage of, amongst other Jannette Coetzee, Alexei Ilin, Joel Morris, Vyvyanne Lorraine, Lauren Jones, Leigh-Ann Gourieand Manuel Noram. Thabang credits Gwen Barryas an influential teacher who was his private coach in in 2009.
Thabangoriginally enrolled to major in Drama at the National School of the Arts (NSA) but moved to the Dance department on Grade 10. He also studied Spanish Dance with Gillian Bonegio, contemporary dance and jazz with Lauren Jones and Ballroom and Latin with Louis Fourie and Cathy Gibbons.
Thabanghas competed in several Latin competitions, performed with the Roodepoort Youth Ballet, appeared in Dance Spectrum for the NSA and was also a member of SABT’s Development School in Braamfontein.
Thabang participated in The South African Ballet Theatre’s production of ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ at the South African State Theatre in December 2011 and officially joined the Graduate programme in 2012.
Sarahjane Sowter
Sarahjane was born in Johannesburg and started ballet at the age of three, with Colleen Theys. She continued her ballet training at The South African Ballet Theatre School, with teachers Natasha Ireland, Andries Weidemann and Alexei Ilin.
Sarahjane attended the National School of the Arts (NSA) from 2007 to 2009. Her subjects included classical ballet, contemporary, Spanish, jazz and African dance. Her teachers at the NSA included Vyvyane Lorraine, Lauren Jones, Gillian Bonegio and Manuel Noram.
She also trained with Lauren Jones, completing her Advanced modern dance examination.
Sarahjane completed her Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Advanced 1 with distinction and performed with the Johannesburg Youth Ballet in 2004 where she was coached by Jean Beckley.
Sarahjane studied Spanish dance with Gillian Bonegio, performing occasionally with the Bonegio Spanish Dance Company. In her matric year she was selected to perform with the NSA at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. .
Sarahjane matriculated in 2009 obtaining the Dux Shield award. She also obtained full colours for Dance and Dance Performance, the Best Overall Dance Student Trophy, Top Dance Studies award (won for three consecutive years) and Best African Dancer. She choreographed her final matric dance piece for which she won Best Choreography. The Gauteng Department of Education also awarded her with the Certificate for Outstanding Achievement in Dance Studies.
Whilst dancing in the SABT School, Sarahjane took part in The SABT’s The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, where children were needed for various parts.
Sarahjane joined SABT’s Graduate Programme in 2010, appearing in the company’s seasons of Swan Lake, Carmen-the Ballet and The Nutcracker.
She also travelled with SABT to Zimbabwe to perform an extract from Swan Lake.