The mission of Dance For All is to “provide children in historically disadvantaged communities with the opportunity for enjoyment, empowerment and promotion of self-esteem through the medium of dance, as well as training professional dancers and developing a unique, indigenous dance company.”  To facilitate this mission, Dance for All teachers go into the townships in and around Cape Town (Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Gugulethu) and conduct outreach programs, teaching dance to kids of all ages.  Our LEAP group did the same.  If the students from the townships have the talent and motivation, a small number of them are accepted into the full-time program, and train for many hours a week in the Dance For All dance studios in Athlone.  Our LEAP Intensive included over 50 full-time students, as well as two groups of students from each township. We worked from 10 am until 5:30 pm every day, teaching ballet, contemporary, jazz, and repertory.  The program concluded with two incredible performances – we were so impressed with the students’ talents and artistry.  They had a remarkable sense of rhythm, unity and collective energy.  It was overwhelming and life-changing to see the growth over just two weeks with these students.

It’s important to understand that most of these dancers come from the worst areas and townships in Cape Town. The mark of apartheid is unfortunately still palpable. The students we were teaching are the first generation of children to be born without its choking grip.  After all, it was not that long ago that the country was officially segregated by color lines. That grip is letting go with every day of a free South Africa.  Equality is on its way, but slowly – nothing happens overnight.  South Africa is an incredibly diverse place, with eleven official languages. It was so fun to try speaking the language – complete with clicks.  I talk about it in this Contra Costa Times article. Visiting the townships where the students lived informed us of their life experience, and gave us a sense of what it means to be a black South African. It isn’t easy. Many of their homes are tiny shacks; the bathrooms are shared by many and are accessible only by dirt paths. The township visits also gave us a sense of what Dance for All means to the young dancers. It’s an opportunity; a safe place to learn, grow, make friends, and expand their world.  This program, and others like it, are very important. Actually, they’re vital.

We were working with the kids for the majority of the time, but we took a drive one day, and were able to see some of the surrounding natural beauty of Cape Town, which resembles the coastline of California in many ways: the coastal cliff drives, windswept “golden hills” and salt air.  We went to the Cape of Good Hope, where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic, an absolutely beautiful place.  Baboons were running around, stealing food and cameras from unsuspecting tourists!

All in all, it was the trip of a lifetime.  I blew off my teacher ‘training wheels’ and now feel prepared to take on new and challenging environments.  I learned that it takes creativity, determination, and discipline to be a good teacher. Watching the smiles on those kids’ faces and witnessing their confidence and self-esteem build with every new step was beyond rewarding.  For me, the most crucial aspect of the trip was knowing that our presence there exposed the students to new things.  It was a cultural exchange, but above all it was it was about growth.  I truly believe that art (which includes dance) is a catalyst for transformation, growth and hope.  Small changes, like the ones inspired by this trip, are the seeds that enact progress in our world.

With more initiatives like the LEAP South Africa course, the world can only become a better place – and I hope to be a part of future initiatives.

Students in class.

Me warming up with students (Photo by Annie Colbeck)

Rehearsing choreography (Photo by Annie Colbeck)

I'll never forget these students! (Photo by Annie Colbeck)

It was great to spend time with our fellow dancers and particularly rewarding to get to spend time with administrative staff members, whom we normally don’t get too much quality time with!  The walk is a perfect opportunity to get to know each other and raise money for a good cause.  Besides, who doesn’t love a walk through Golden Gate Park?  Dogs are welcome too! My dog Pilot came, as well as Kristina Lind’s pooch, Tina.  They were excellent walkers, although they made a few more pit-stops than our other team members…

Being involved with events like AIDS WALK SF is important for San Francisco Ballet.  Not only do the members of SFB come together to create world-class dance performances, but it’s important to remind everyone that we are also engaged members of the Bay Area community, committed to utilizing our gifts for altruistic endeavors.  Many of our members are involved with volunteer organizations around the Bay Area and enjoy donating time and energy to causes near to their hearts (when we’re not in the studio or on stage!).  I’m currently serving as spokesperson for the Cancer Prevention Institute of California, and very much enjoy that position.  Dancers also help raise money for charities by volunteering for benefit performances around the world.  Maria Kochetkova recently performed in the Les Etoiles pour le Japon benefit in Paris, and Damian Smith and Yuan Yuan Tan performed last summer in the Fire Island Dance Festival, produced by Dancers Responding to Aids.  It’s amazing to see artists come together and share their talents for the greater good.

We’re thrilled to be a part of AIDS WALK 2011. Click here to learn more!

Here I am with the 2010 SF Ballet AIDS Walk Team