National Ballet South Africa is delighted to announce its inaugural Summer School exclusively for young dancers from age 5 up to 18 years (pre-professional level). The 4-day Summer School will take place from Wednesday 4 to Saturday 7 October 2023 at the National School of the Arts (NSA) in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
National Ballet South Africa was initiated by three local dance professionals, the highly regarded former Artistic Director of Joburg Ballet Iain MacDonald, Karen Beukes and Lauren Slade. Joining them in this venture are a number of their esteemed professional Dance colleagues.
“We’re delighted to be presenting a Summer School for young dancers that will give them the opportunity to further develop their skill and artistry, and that it takes place, rather fittingly I think at the NSA, a unique secondary School of specialisation in the Performing and Creative Arts”, said MacDonald, currently a faculty member of Mignon Furman Ballet and the American Academy of Ballet (AAB).
“The Summer School programme includes classes in classical ballet, mime, Latin, hip-hop, repertoire and neo classical dance under the guidance of our great teaching faculty – professional dancers, choreographers, teachers and coaches who are among the best in the industry.”
National Ballet South Africa’s Summer School 2023 faculty comprises the three directors – Iain MacDonald, Karen Beukes, owner and Principal of Elite Ballet (a high performance Training Centre for dancers) and Lauren Slade, former Ballet Mistress Joburg Ballet together with Lauryn Summerley, former senior soloist with SABT, Michael Revie, former principal dancer, choreographer and international ballet teacher, Haydee Baker, NSA Head of Department (Dance), Fiona Budd, Foundation Director at St David’s Marist Foundation, Janine du Plessis, ballet teacher at Elite Ballet, Happy Seitlhamo, professional Latin American and ballroom dance teacher and coach, and the most senior member of the faculty, a gem of the ballet world – Nigel Hannah.
National Ballet South Africa Summer School 2023
Dates: 4 – 7 October 2023
Age: 5 years and up to pre-professional level (18 years)
Groups: There are five groups: Age 5; Age 6 – 8; Age 9 – 11; Age 12 – 14; Age 15 -18 – each with its own programme. NB: not all the participants will experience all the teachers/programmes
Venue: National School of the Arts, 17 Hoofd St, Braampark, Johannesburg
Registration: Closing date for entries is 2 October 2023
*On Saturday 7 October at 11 am there will be a performance for families/friends of the participants. Tickets at R50 per person will be sold at registration every morning (credit card facilities are available). Seating is unreserved.
Registration is open – book now to avoid disappointment. For detailed information: fees, schedules, programmes per groups and registration forms, please contact Lauren Slade: lauren@nationalballet.co.za or Karen Beukes: karen@nationalballet.co.za
