Profile
The South African Ballet Theatre Development School Programme is in place to provide a safe and structured environment for our childrens’ lives to grow socially as well as to introduce them to the joy and benefits of ballet and offer them a potential career in the performing arts.
The primary focus is to teach underprivileged children valuable etiquette and leadership skills through the art of dance and exposure to role models. Once in the programme the children are instilled with a feeling of pride and self worth through arranged artistic performances.
Personal interests in individual children circumstances enable teachers to understand each child’s specific requirement, in order to mould disadvantaged and vulnerable children in socially responsible and culturally sensitive individuals.
As an added advantage the foundations of a career path are forged for talented artists.
We currently have +/-250 children in our SA Ballet Theatre Development School Programme from Melville, Alexandra, Katlehong, Sophiatown and Soweto. The children are between 5 years to 16 years; thereafter, they are encouraged to move on to the ballet school and academy, where they can continue their training towards a career in dance.
The SA Ballet Theatre is blessed to have wonderful teachers that takes the development school very seriously and are committed to give the children the best training and care that they need. Our classes are for free to the whole community and the SA Ballet Theatre Company pays the teachers a monthly salary.
The aim of the Development School Programme is to give the children in disadvantaged areas an opportunity to explore the arts and to see if they have an interest in a future of dance. The SABT is hoping to give these children a good training so that they are strong enough to become professional dancers if they have the talent and the desire, as well as offering them exposure to other careers in the theatre world such as designers, arts managers and theatre personnel.
Overview
The South African Ballet Theatre Development School Programme is ever- changing. We are moving away from being a place where children can come to after school learning ballet in a safe environment to keep them off the streets from violence and crime, to a formal school set-up where our students receive intense training from the best teachers. We expose our students to professional ballet by inviting them to watch SABT’s performances such as Nutcracker, Carmen, Coppélia, Sleeping Beauty and many more. Some of the pupils are fortunate enough to be able to participate in SABT’s professional performances where children are required as part of the cast. Students are invited and sponsored to partake in our annual Autumn/Winter School, which is a great opportunity for our students to socialize and meet students from other studios. Yearly our students also perform their Cechetti Examintion which takes place in October.
Activities for 2011:
Activities for 2011 would therefore be:
1. National Eisteddfod Academy 5 March 2011
2. Teachers Workshop - Teachers Cecchetti Society Syllabus 7 – 10 March 2011
3. East Rand Dance Encore Awards-19 March 2011
4. SABT Company Men Work shop - Company men spending some time with the boys in the programme. It is often very demoralizing for them to be so thoroughly outnumbered and as the social pressures on male dancers are so great, they do need the encouragement
5. Autumn School 28 March - 2 April 2011 - It is an opportunity for our students to interact with other children that are like minded and also to experience a week of intense ballet training
6. Dikonokono Festival – This Festival is run under the auspices of the National Eisteddfod Academy, and has the backing of the Department of Education. The festival was specifically designed for the needs of disadvantaged communities. It meets with all OBE requirements in that each participant is required to perform to the best of his or her own personal ability. In this way, dancers are not penalized for being late starters, or expected to be at the same level as those who have had many years of private tuition. Instead, adjudicators are trained to take into account the dance history of each participant. A result is awarded as a Diploma, Gold, Silver, etc, rather than a placing.
7. Romeo & Juliet Performance 1 June – 19 June 2011
8. Teachers and Students Workshop 22 – 28 August 2011
9. Balletomania 9- 11 September 2011
10. Sleeping Beauty 30 September – 16 October 2011
11. Cecchetti Examinations – conducted by the Council of Management of the Cecchetti Society of Southern Africa. All Cecchetti examinations are recognisedinternationally, and are conducted by Cecchetti examiners who all hold the Fellowship status in the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. 30 October
Exam Results 2010
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NAME
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LEVEL
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RESULT
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Bianca
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PrePrimary
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B
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Karabo
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PrePrimary
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B+
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Tsireletso
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PrePrimary
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A
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Elona
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PrePrimary
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B+
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Laila
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PrePrimary
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Didn’t arrive
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Makhosazana
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Primary
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B
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Hlobisani
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Primary
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B+
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Mbalenhle
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Primary
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A
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Halalisani
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Primary
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B+
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Busisiwe
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Primary
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B+
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Simphiwe
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Primary
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B+
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Koketso
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Primary
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A
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Tsakane
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Primary
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B+
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Nhlanhla
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Primary
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A
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Musa
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Primary
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A+
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Katlego
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Primary
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A
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Nolwazi
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Primary
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A
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Buhle
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Primary
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B+
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Ayanda Mqahi
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Test 1
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B
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Kutlwano
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Test 1
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A+
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Sindisiwe
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Test 1
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A
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Potlako
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Test 1
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A
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Nhlanhla
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Test 1
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B+
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Malesedi
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Test 1
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B+
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Nqobile
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Test 2
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B+
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Sibongile
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Test 2
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B
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Ayanda Mabusa
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Test 2
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B
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Kgothatso
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Test 2
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B+
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Patricia
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Test 2
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A
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Nomfundo
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Test 2
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A
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Nomthandazo
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Test 2
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A+
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Nthabiseng
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Test 2
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Unable to dance
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Tebogo
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Test 3
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C+
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Koketso
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Test 3
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B+
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Mahlatse
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Test 3
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C+
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Nomsa
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Test 3
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C+
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Johny
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Test 3
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B+
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Lerato
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Test 3
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Didn’t arrive
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Lesedi
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Test 5
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B
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12. Annual Year end Concert 3 December 2011
13. SABT’s The Nutcracker Christmas Ballet from 18 November – 18 December at the SA State Theatre, Pretoria
SABT Development School Challenges
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Lack of dance clothes ( children end up dancing in school clothes)
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Rental for larger studio space
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Lack of costumes for dance performances
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Lack of transportation to go to other performances and outings
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No ballet barres in studios ( it is very difficult for a teacher to teach steps without a barre
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Sound Equipment for studios
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Examination fees for students
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Yearly workshops
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Unfortunately the parents are not very involved, which causes problems for performances, discipline and attendance
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Lack of qualified teachers
The South African Ballet Theatre Individual Development School Programme History
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Air Products Alexandra Development School History
The Alexandra Development School was founded in 2001 at the San Kopano Centre by Victor Mohapi and The South African Ballet Theatre. We approached all the parents and the principals of the schools and pre-schools in the area like Araganeng and Amukelani which became involved in our programme. The company Air Products South Africa (Pty) Ltd took naming rights to the Alexandra project with a 2010 sponsorship (http://airproductsafrica.co.za/ballet/), take their CSI programmes very seriously and are becoming very involved with the project.
We currently have +/- 80 students attending twice a week and some of the talented students attend the South African Ballet Theatre studios for more advanced classes with our teacher Ms Fiona Brown.
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Winter School 2010
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Classes at the SABT Studios
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Air Products Alexandra Development School Programme
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Others that are showing signs of potential are:
Nthabiseng Nyembe Musa Makhubela
Nomthandazo Nkosi Patricia Nkaoanyana
Simphiwe Mashete Katlego Maduma
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Development School History
In 2003 Tumi Mogope introduced Angelina Sekonya to The South African Ballet Theatre to teach at the Katlehong Outreach. Angelina is a school teacher at the Zonkizizwe Primary School in Katlehong. Her classes consist of +/- 60 children divided into 4 group’s ages between 7 – 14 consisting of boys and guys.
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Year End Concert 2009 At the Promusica Theatre
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Iain Macdonald ( SABT Artistic Director) teaching a class
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Students who shows great potential:
Lerato Mopaung Christina Tsotetsi
Lerato Mofokeng Refiloe Tsotetsi
Celeste Bila
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Melville Development School History
The Foundation School is home to the Melville Development School programme and currently has +/- 34 students. This is a remedial school so the children need more attention and stimulation throughout the class. In 2008 the Melville Development School participated for the first time in our Year-end Concert held at the State Theatre and it was a great success.
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Year End Concert 2008 at the State Theatre in Pretoria
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Students who shows great potential:
Ashley Dlamini Nomthandazo Fuzane
Raygana Ismail Mpho Beyers
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Soweto Development School History
On Saturday the 10th of October 2009 The South African Ballet Theatre opened their first ballet school in Soweto in conjunction with the City of Johannesburg. On the day the South African Ballet Theatre Company gave a performance and afterwards Fiona Brown, a qualified ballet teacher, held a workshop with the children to give them an idea of what the classes would entail. Fiona Brown began formal classes with the students on the 19th of October. We have managed to keep the numbers of our students consistent following a brief problem at the beginning of this year, where it seems several children thought the ballet had stopped, all the children who had been attending last year have returned making the classes a little fuller than what we had anticipated. We currently have +/- 50 students of these, 19 students are participating in our Annual October Examinations.
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Opening of the Soweto Programme October 2009
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Winter School 2010
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Students showing potential:
Buhle Diko, Potlako Modisakeng, Tlotlego Sengoai,
Kutlwano Sengoai, Mpoi Ntsani, Nosipho Makwala,
Halalisani, Hlobisani Zondo, Mandlakazi Nongwe,
Gugulethu Ngwenya, Ayanda, Tirelitse Marate,
Lesedi, with good, hard work, will be ready for the SABT Graduate auditions by 2014, when she matriculates.
For any further information on the above programmes of The South African Ballet Theatre please contact Candace Osbourn (SABT Development School Coordinator).
5. The SABT Tshwane Development School History (Mamelodi & Eersterus)
The Tswane Development School was founded in 2002 in Mamelodi at the St Peter Claver Hall. Mariliez Fouché started the programme and later Hanlie Wydeman took over the Project in 2006. In 2010 the Eersterus and Mamelodi Programme became The SABT Tswane Development School. Hanlie introduced other Dance forms and styles such as – Hip Hop, Modern and also some Aerobics to stimulate more interest as many young people from the townships understood those forms of dance better! But the main focus is ballet, using a combined syllabus. Together with the help of Margaret Kgasi or “Gogo” as the children like to call her, great success stories emerged and still managed to support aspiring professional dancers. Margaret in fact, started with the development school in when she was part of the Orchestra at State Theatre (Pretoria) - STETT. She started working with 5 year old children. As the interest grew, more children got involved and to date, Margaret still assists with arrangements in Mamelodi.Children take part in classes every Monday and Friday at the Mamelodi Claver Church Hall. Currently there are a total of 45 Children participating and there’s hope that the numbers will pick up as more support would be available in terms of Pointe shoes, costumes, transport etc, as most of these children are from poorer families. For any further information on the above programmes of The South African Ballet Theatre
Development School Schedule
Alexandra Development School
Teachers:
Victor Mohapi Tuesday & Thursday 15h00- 17h30
Alexandra & Soweto Development School
Teachers: Fiona Brown
Soweto Monday & Friday 15h00- 17h30
Alexandra Tuesday & Thursday 15h00- 17h30
Melville & Sophiatown Development School
Teachers: Candace Osbourn
Melville Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 13h00 – 14h00
Sophiatown Tuesday & Friday 14h15- 15h30
Tshwane Development School
Teachers:
Hanlie Wydemann Monday & Friday 15h00- 17h30