Iain MacDonald
Born in Johannesburg, Iain joined PACT Ballet in 1991 as a corps de ballet member directly after matriculating from the Johannesburg Art School. He danced the company for almost ten years during which time he was rapidly promoted to Principal roles and became well-known for his princely bearing and clean technique on stage
He has guested internationally in Copenhagen and toured Taiwan with the ballet "A Midsummer Nights Dream" as "Oberon". Iain has also been the winner of numerous awards such as the S.A. Adeline Geneè Silver Trophy, The Nederburg award and the FNB Vita Award for Ballet and has appeared in several music videos for Nataniël.
Following the closure of the State Theatre Iain choreographed, produced and directed 'The Nutcracker' together Karen Beukes and Angela Malan and which was performed at the SA State Theatre in December 2000.
Iain is one of the six founder members of The South African Ballet Theatre (SABT) and a Principal Dancer with the company.
He runs the popular 'Ballet for Adults' classes in the evenings and has choreographed various works for the annual Valentine / Autumn Enchantment and Arts Alive seasons.
Iain's roles for SABT have included Albrecht in 'Giselle', Don José in 'Carmen', Siegfried in 'Swan Lake', and the Snow Prince and the Fiancé / Prince in 'The Nutcracker', Dr Coppelius in 'Coppélia', the Winter pas de deux in Sean Bovim's 'I Will Say Goodbye Tomorrow' (for the Royal Danish Ballet 2002 collaboration), Esther Nasser's 'Pieces of You', Romeo and Tybalt in 'Romeo and Juliet', Poet in 'Les Sylphides' and Espada in 'Don Quixote'.
In February 2004 Iain underwent a hip-replacement operation and has successfully returned to full-time dancing. Whilst recovering from his surgery he took the roles of Von Rothbart in 'Swan Lake', Drosselmeyer in 'The Nutcracker' and Shaggy, the Wolf in 'Rock-a-Tutu'. He was also one of the six choreographers chosen by director Ian von Memerty to choreograph for the production.
In September 2006, Iain accepted the position of Director: Fundraising, Marketing & Development at SABT and in January 2009, he took over the reigns from his wife Karen and is currently Artistic Director.
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LAUREN DIXON-SEAGER
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Lauren Dixon-Seager started ballet at the age of 6 and was taught by Sandra Carstens, Jean Kifoil and Ethne Ferraris. She joined PACT Ballet in June 1997 and was promoted to Senior Corps de Ballet in April 2000. After the closure of the State Theatre, Lauren performed in numerous corporate promotions. She was part of the company that regrouped to perform the Beukes / Malan / MacDonald 'Nutcracker' in December 2000 and went on to become part of the newly formed South African Ballet Theatre.
Lauren was promoted to Soloist with The South African Ballet Theatre and her roles for the company have included Pasquita in 'Carmen', Swanhilda, Friends, Betrothal and Innkeeper’s Daughter in ‘Coppelia’, the Pas de Trois, Big Swans, Cygnets, the Lead Spanish Lady and Lead Czardas Lady in 'Swan Lake', Mama, Arabian, Snow Crystals, Lead Flower, Spanish Dance and the Arabian in 'The Nutcracker', the Fairy of the Woodland Glade and Pas de Quatre in 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Napoli Act III' in collaboration with The Royal Danish Ballet, Hamza and the Pas de Cinq in 'Papillon', Bathilde and Moyna in 'Giselle', Five Ladies in 'Who Cares', the Principal Couple in 'Schlager', the Solo in 'Kopano' and Princess Rose, Chloe Queen of Denial and Granny Wanda in 'Rock-a-Tutu'. She has also performed the Pas de Six and Friends role in ‘La Traviata’, the Spring and Winter Fairies in ‘Cinderella’ and Cleo, Queen of Denial and Granny Wanda in ‘Rock-a-Tutu’, Waltz and Miseries in ‘Les Sylphides’ and Kitri’s Friend and Lead Dryad in ‘Don Quixote’.
Lauren was responsible for training and coordinating the children from Bloemfontein, East London, Port Elizabeth and Kimberley who were involved in SABT's 2005 Nutcracker tour.
In 2006, Lauren was the recipient of the Madge Cade Award and was appointed SABT Ballet Mistress to the SABT in October.
Lauren appeared in the televised broadcast of ‘Swan Lake’ in the role of Big Swan in December 2007.
As a member of the Company’s Artistic Team, Lauren has assisted with the producing of ‘Romeo + Juliet’, ‘La Traviata’, ‘Swan Lake’, ‘Cinderella’, ‘Rock-a-Tutu’ ‘ The Nutcracker’, ‘Don Quixote’, ‘Autumn Enchantment, ‘Valentine Enchantment’ ‘Coppélia’ and other shorter works for corporate events and festivals.
On September 2nd 2009 she gave birth to her first child a baby girl Kora Slade.
In 2010, she produced, along with the SABT Artistic Team, ‘Swan Lake’ and was the Répétiteur for Veronica Paeper’s ‘Carmen-the Ballet’, both at the Joburg Theatre.
In 2011 she made her debut as Carabosse in ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
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