SA Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni with young dancers from the SA Ballet Theatre's outreach programme

RELATED LINKS: Ballet reaches out to Alexandra Committed to expanding the horizons of both audiences and potential ballet dancers, the South African Ballet Theatre (SABT) has offered the township's ballet students the opportunity to display what they have learnt in a prelude to the production of 'Giselle', which they will stage at the Alexandra Stadium on Thursday 10 June. Read more SA Ballet Theatre takes centre stage When Bernard Jay, CEO of the Civic Theatre, asked what it would take to persuade Dirk Badenhorst, CEO of the South African Ballet Theatre (SABT) to move his company from Pretoria to Johannesburg, his simple answer was: "Build us two studios". Read more Civic Theatre programme from January to June Read more

Mboweni is new patron of dance THE SOUTH African Ballet Theatre has a powerful patron in Tito Mboweni, the Reserve Bank governor. He will help raise funds for the company by introducing it to captains of industry around the world. March 24, 2005 By Bafana Nzimande IN KEEPING with its spirit of entrepreneurship and aim of finding opportunities for dancers, the South African Ballet Theatre (SABT) has a new patron in South African Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni. The decision to approach Mboweni to be patron was an acknowledgment of the company's efforts to create an environment in which dancers can advance their careers. "This is an indication of the company's maturity and growth - to be supported both from an artistic point of view and a business perspective," says Dirk Badenhorst, the company's chief executive officer. SA Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni teaches amused dancers and SA Ballet Theatre chief Dirk Badenhorst, some of the finer points of ballet In a press release, the governor said artistic endeavours were central to the complex process of nation building. They allowed a country to give voice to its cultural aspirations. "The SABT embodies this new spirit of cultural expression, crossing historically entrenched cultural boundaries to reach out to a broad spectrum of the community." The partnership between the governor and the ballet company does not involve any financial obligations, but Mboweni will endorse and introduce the SABT to big businesses around the world that might consider sponsoring or investing in the company. "We could not have asked for a better present than Mboweni's signature," says Hannalie Coetzee, the marketing manager, noting that the company celebrated its fourth birthday in February. Established in 2001 following the closure of the State Theatre Ballet, the SABT employs 38 dancers and has become one of the country's largest ballet companies, says Coetzee. Mboweni hosted his first function as patron on Tuesday, 15 March. Representatives from various companies, including Anglo American, First National Bank and Rand Merchant Bank, attended the gala fundraising dinner at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre. More than R1-million was raised. Dinner guests were mesmerised by performances from the company's dancers. They also watched a short film on the SABT's move from the State Theatre in Pretoria to its new home at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre. For more information about the South African Ballet Theatre company, call 011 877 6898 or visit www.saballettheatre.co.za Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za