The Joburg Ballet Academy’s inaugural ‘Debut Dancer’ Bursary Award presentation at Roodepoort Theatre 23-24 May 2025.

The Joburg Ballet Academy is delighted to announce that its inaugural ‘Debut Dancer’ Bursary Award presentation will take place at the Roodepoort Theatre on Friday 23 May at 19:00 and on Saturday 24 May at 14:00 and 18:00.

Formerly known as the Val Whyte Bursary, the Debut Dancer Bursary Award presentation will feature 10 finalists taking class on stage with the highly acclaimed, former Joburg Ballet principal dancer, Nicole Ferreira-Dill, and a full programme of other works, including a showcase work from Joburg Ballet.

The finalists were selected to compete for the Bursary award at a recent audition which was open to young ballet dancers aged 13 to 14, training in RAD, Cecchetti and other methods from various private studios in Gauteng.

On Wednesday 21 May at the Joburg Ballet Studios in Braamfontein, the finalists will do a class consisting of barre, centre practise and solos conducted by Nicole Ferreira-Dill with the judges in attendance. And at the Roodepoort Theatre on:

•              Friday 23 May at 19:00 they will do centre practise and the group number

•              Saturday 24 May at 14:00 they will present their solos and the group number

•              Saturday 24 May at 18:00 the final judging for the awarding of the Debut Dance Bursary will take place. Under the watchful eye of Nicole Ferreira-Dill, the 10 finalists will present their centre practise and the group number for the judges, after which the announcement of the first recipient of the inaugural Debut Dancer Bursary Award will be made.

The full programme will feature two works performed by the Joburg Ballet Academy dancers – an excerpt from Giselle Act 1, staged by Nicole Ferreira-Dill and a contemporary work, ‘Adrenalin Rush’ choreographed by Charlie van Rooyen. Also in the programme is the Joburg Junior Ballet’s presentation of ‘May it always be Christmas’, choreographed by Jo Bobrow, Tracey McNiven and Christine Sheperd, works by invited private studio teachers who have students currently at the Joburg Ballet Academy and a showcase piece from Joburg Ballet.

The Joburg Ballet Academy gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the South African Ballet Theatre Trust and other sponsors who wish to remain anonymous.

Tickets: R200 (includes a programme) – bookings via Webtickets.

Joburg Ballet Academy

The Academy was established to give promising young dancers the opportunity to supplement their training with private teachers. The young dancers, ranging in age from 13 to 18 take regular classes with various highly skilled teachers and former professional dancers. They receive training in ensemble dancing to prepare them for corps de ballet work they would do, should they enter a professional ballet company. The Academy dancers are often used to augment the ranks of Joburg Ballet’s corps de ballet. The Academy aims to contribute to the development of future generations of South African dancers and with that in mind the Academy directors work closely with Joburg Ballet’s management to further their mutual interests. The current Joburg Academy directors comprise Burnise Silvius, a former principal dancer with Joburg Ballet, Jenny Barlow, an esteemed Cecchetti teacher, Nicole Ferreira-Dill, former Joburg Ballet principal dancer and the former Artistic Director of Joburg Ballet, Iain MacDonald.

Media enquiries: Di Sparks,
Behind the Scenes Communications | 073 208 8483 | disparks@artslink.co.za

Di Sparks
disparks@artslink.co.za
073 208 8483
Joburg Ballet Academy