Belhar High celebrates 40th anniversary

BELHAR High School in Bellville celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, as well as 10 years since it became an Arts Focus School.

The school boasts famous former pupil actress, model and presenter Kim Engelbrecht as its main success story from its arts programme. Engelbrecht stars in the hit Marvel TV series .

The Flash Also making headway on the entertainment scene is matric pupil Dillion Windvogel, who made his acting debut this year playing Ashwin in ,a

DanZ youth dance drama series set on the Cape Flats.

The 17-year-old said he had won the role after auditioning for the movie

Noem My Skollie two years ago.

“In Grade 10 I was approached to audition for the role of Ashwin. It’s completely different to the theatre training we received in drama class as I had to adjust to being in front of a camera and each emotion and movement, however subtle is captured by the camera.”

Faisa Jaftha, head of the school’s arts department, said she had always known the young performer had the talent to be a star.

“Dillion always showed the potential to be a star. In Grade 9 I sent him to work with Ephraim Gordon, whom I consider a prominent director in Cape Town. By the end of his Grade 11 year, he was involved in . I am so

DanZ proud that he is fulfilling the potential I saw in him.” South African season

Idols 13 contestant, Paxton Fielies,

is in Grade 11 at the school. Fielies auditioned for the show at when she was 16 and is the youngest contestant in the competition. She said her abilities as an artist had grown since entering the talent competition. “so far has Idols been amazing. I have grown as an artist and I’m discovering more and more about myself with every performance.” Principal Carl Davids said the arts programme is a vital part of the curriculum as it assists learners with making good career choices in the future. “We want to give our learners the opportunity for the best career in the future, through our present arts programme.”