July 18, 2006
By Thuli Ntuli
THIS weekend sees the annual national ballet and modern dance championships taking place at the Pro Musica Theatre in Roodepoort.
Young dancers from across the country will take part in the event, hosted by the National Society of Dance Teachers. Dancers perform in two categories: the junior competition of 13 to 16 year olds and the senior competition for over 16s.
Judges for the ballet section are South African Ballet Theatre's Fiona Budd, the artistic director of the Cecchetti Society of Southern Africa, Gail Myburgh and Cape Town Ballet School graduate and Pilates exponent Lindy Badenhorst.
The modern dance judges are dancer and choreographer Constance Kau Mchunu of the Tshwane Dance Company, Gladys Agulhas, choreographer and founder of the Agulhas Theatre Works Company, and internationally renowned Gregory Maqoma, choreographer and founder of the Vuyani Dance Theatre Company.
Prizes total R19 000 and trophies are also given in each section.
The modern dance section takes place on 22 July, with the juniors performing from 2.30pm in the Rita Michaelson Junior Championships and the seniors competing from 6.30pm in the Nina Bodenham Senior Modern Championship.
On Sunday, 23 July the ballet competition takes place: the juniors will dance at 2.30pm in the Gwen Evans Championship and the seniors at 6.30pm in the Marjorie Sturman Senior Ballet Championship.
Each competitor will perform optional set pieces, a repertoire and, in the final round, a dance of their own choice, according to the chairperson of the National Society of Dance Teachers, Sue Tyass.
Demonstrations will also take place between the rounds: from Vanessa-Jayne Bennett's Moving Visions Dance Studio to Kelsey Middleton and the Bowring/ Levin School of Modern and Tap Dance. Joanne Bobrow's Spanish dance company El Rincon Flamenco will also perform.
Started in 1998, the competition gives young dancers the opportunity to compete at a national level.
Tickets are available at the door at R30 per person, with pensioners and children paying R20. Those wanting to attend both sessions pay R50 a day.
For more information, call the National Society of Dance Teachers on 011 463 6851. For tickets, call Pro Musica on 011 674 1357/8.
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