KZN girls dance their way to New York dreams

Two young dancers are set to jet off to the American Academy of Ballet (AAB) in New York for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train at one of the world's most respected ballet programmes.

Senior: Mieke Bester, a pupil of Wendy Reinhardt from Wendy Reinhardt Academy of Dance, in Amanzimtoti, and Junior: Ella Berkeljon, a pupil of Celeste Barrow from Dance incorporated, in Underberg competed in the South African Performance Awards Competition held at the Hilton College Theatre, where they won a R7,500 cash prize that will go towards their travel costs.

Once at the AAB Summer School of Excellence, the girls' tuition, accommodation, meals, and other expenses will be covered for one week.

Meanwhile, their teachers, Wendy Reinhardt and Celeste Barrow, have also been invited to attend the teachers' programme at the Summer School in New York City. If they are able to get to New York, the rest of their expenses will be paid for. As per the competition, if the girls are unable to get to New York, they are welcome to invest the prize money into dance lessons or ballet gear, if they prefer.

One junior and two seniors were given prizes of R3,000 cash each, to go towards their ballet tuition:

Junior winner is Sihlelewe Mbalekwa (competition number 4) a pupil of teacher Susan Cleary from Midlands Dance Theatre Centre.

The two Senior winners are: Sarah Eichler (competition number 25) who is also with Susan Cleary; and the third recipient is Diane van Rensberg (competition number 31) who dances with Sam Syfert at Twirlz Dance Studio in Pretoria.

IOL