July 4, 2006
By Thuli Ntuli
FOUNDED during the height of the apartheid era, the Johannesburg Youth Ballet has a long history of fighting discrimination through dance. This year the company celebrates its 30th birthday.
It is no coincidence that the company's formation coincides with the 30th anniversary of the 16 June uprising. Started in 1976 after the Soweto student marches and subsequent police shootings sparked countrywide protests, the Johannesburg Youth Ballet broke with convention.
It selected a band of young dancers - the first completely non-racial group - to represent South Africa in a festival in Aberdeen, Scotland.
The Johannesburg Youth Ballet at work, with dancers from the Katlehong outreach programme
"The company broke down political barriers and continued a path that has led to many dancers of all races realising their dreams and ambitions," says the company's artistic director, Jean Beckley.
"To us, race was not an issue," adds company secretary and former dancer, Sherryl Rodin, "Even though we could not understand each other, we communicated through dance."
As part of their 30th anniversary celebrations, the Johannesburg Youth Ballet this year staged Waratah, a piece that was last performed in 1983 at a time South Africa was heading for further protests that lead to the declaration of a State of Emergency.
Waratah was the first dance ever performed by the Johannesburg Youth Ballet and was created specially for the company by the late Audrey King, who founded the ballet company.
The piece explores issues of race through the story of a young white baby rescued from a shipwreck by a black community, who then raise her. The title is taken from the name of a ship that was wrecked off the east coast of South Africa in 1909.
Thirty years on. The audience at the performance of Waratah spontaneously cheered the performance, which had been mesmerising. Dancers in orange, brown and white blended with the music of Stefans Grove.
Classical moves put together with traditional Zulu dance added to the telling tale, as a lone drummer pounded a rhythm.
When farmer's son Andre declared his love for Waratah, the lights were dim, with the dancers surrounded by candles. The dancers, capturing the depth of emotions, drew the audience into the characters' lives, into their story.
Over the years
"The love of ballet has kept the Johannesburg Youth Ballet going for all these years," says Beckley.
The company comes together for six months of the year. Auditions are held every October and classes begin in January. The hard work then culminates with a series of public performances in the middle of the year.
Waratah rehearsals in the studio, with the company's artistic director Jean Buckley
Currently the company has 27 members, whose ages range from early tens to early twenties. Hundreds of dancers attend the auditions. To aspiring dancers, Beckley says, "I would advise them to work very hard."
After the dancers are selected, they attend weekend classes at the Wits Theatre. Here they work at the barre and on a range of dance forms from modern contemporary to classical ballet.
"The classical repertoires are the highlight of the company," says Beckley.
"In the classes the children learn how to behave as professional ballet dancers and how the theatre works," she adds.
Guests conduct classes and dancers learn to get along and communicate with each other.
The company works closely with the South African Ballet Theatre. "We contribute by staging dances from the South African Ballet Theatre outreach programmes," Beckley says.
Although the Johannesburg Youth Ballet used to go on international tours, a lack of funding has curtailed trips. In the past the company visited Rome and Israel as well as China.
Locally the Johannesburg Youth Ballet performed around the country, including at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
"Over the years a number of former members of the Johannesburg Youth Ballet have given their time and experience, returning as guest choreographers or to give young dancers invaluable artistic and creative support," says Beckley.
One such example is Timothy Le Roux, who created With Stars in Their Eyes, a contemporary jazz piece, especially for the company's 30th anniversary.
The Johannesburg Youth Ballet is determined to continue its work. Says Beckley: "I would like ballet to be taken seriously and the ballet companies to continue to keep ballet alive and kicking."
For more information, call Sherryl Rodin on 011 784 9570.
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