Sixteen dancers from the National Ballet School of Cuba,
under the directorship of Ramona de Saa, will travel to South Africa
accompanied by three of the school’s ballet teachers and a
translator. They will present a diverse repertoire that will include
well-known classical pas de deux and solos, as well as contemporary and
traditional dance works. Whilst in the Mother City, the Young Cuban Ballet
Stars company will also present several workshops at the CAPA dance
studios in Tokai, and at the Dance for All centre in Athlone. The CTIBC
workshop initiative in Cape Town is being supported by the UCT School of
Dance in Rondebosch, where the Cuban dancers will also be taking class.
In Pretoria, the workshops will be held at the Ballet and
Dance Academy in Irene. Aside from the Cuban ballet teachers sharing their
expertise and teaching methods, the workshops will also be a platform for
Mr. Dirk Badenhorst, the CEO of the CTIBC, formerly known as the South
African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC),. to present the new
criteria for the next Cape Town International Ballet Competition. There is
already tremendous interest from Ms. De Saa and other dancers from
companies and schools across Europe, Australia, the UK and the USA in
sending dancers to compete in the next CTIBC, to be held in Cape Town at
the Artscape Opera House from 12 to 17 July, 2010.
Many Cuban dancers of all ages regularly participate in
international competitions and in light of this, the teachers will share
their experiences and their preparation strategies for these types of
events. Dancers from Cuba are exceptionally well-trained and Cuban stars
such as Carlos Acosta, who is a Principal with The Royal Ballet in London,
have cemented their global reputation as dancers with superb technique and
athleticism. The junior dancers that will be seen in SA are all products
of fine schooling and their visit is thus highly anticipated.
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Young Cuban Ballet Stars