Recently dancers from across the Helderberg came together for the week to prepare for their upcoming production of Thumbelina, which will be performed at the Playhouse Theatre in Somerset West, from Thursday March 20 to Saturday March 22.
Winelands Youth Ballet exists to give young people in the Helderberg and surrounds the opportunity to experience being a part of a Youth Ballet Company, and to support the collaboration between ballet teachers in area, and to promote ballet, the arts, and the joy of community theatre.
Great fun was had by all and we look forward to the upcoming Playhouse Production.
Robin van Wyk, as ,a professional dancer for NAPAC , PACT and CAPAB (Cape Town City Ballet) and the artistic director for 12 years, and was also in Cats as the Magical Mr Mistoffelles for four years
“I started choreographing children’s ballets in 2005, the first one being for Port Elizabeth Friendly City youth Ballet, followed by KZN Midlands Youth Ballet, The Zimbabwe dance Trust and Windhoek Dance College,“ said Mr Van Wyk.
“I also choreographed several ballets for Cape Town city ballet… namely Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The sleeping beauty and Thumbelina to name a few.
“I felt children (young dancers) needed to experience being part of a large professional stage production… within these productions children learnt discipline, team work, dance techniques and stage etiquette.
“Over the last 20 years these shows have become very popular and children have grown up in their dance community performing in these ballets, some even becoming ballet teachers and professional dancers themselves.
“Dance has a way of bringing joy to children’s lives – a joy they will remember for a long time,” Mr Van Wyk added.
