‘Springing into action’
A DEAF ballerina dancing a lead role in the stage production of A Spartacus of Africa is encouraging young people to help out with this year’s Casual Day.
Simoné Botha, 25, is an ambassador for Casual Day, an annual fund-raising event in support of a number of organisations that work with disabled people.
Participants pay R10 for a Casual Day sticker, which allows them to wear casual clothes to work on the first Friday in September.
This year, Casual Day is on September 4 and the theme is “Spring Into Action”.
People are encouraged to dress according to the theme.
Botha, who plays Phrygia in the ballet production, was born deaf and had a cochlear implant when months old.
She went to the Carel du Toit Centre in Tygerberg, where deaf children learn to speak, and matriculated from Jan van Riebeeck High school in 2007. She was also Miss Deaf SA in 2012.
Botha is encouraging young people to spring into action and volunteer for Casual Day by selling tickets to companies, schools, organisations, family, friends and neighbours.
She said getting young people involved is also in honour of Youth Month.
“Getting pupils in a school environment to participate in Casual Day is one of the best
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22 ways of raising awareness for persons with disabilities.
“I am so honoured to have been appointed as a Casual Day ambassador. Being part of this platform is an amazing stepping stone for me, but at the same time it is an even bigger responsibility to further educate the public about hearing impairment.”
Her love of the stage had made it very easy for her to be a voice for the hearing impaired – as an ambassador and motivational speaker.
She says she hears music as a “beautiful blur” and started ballet when she was two.
“I enrolled in extramural activities such as ballet, drama, piano and modelling, which created an inclusive environment for me to be part of a hearing society. I worked very hard to hone my hearing abilities,” said Botha, who graduated from UCT with a Performance Certificate in Dance (with distinction) in 2009.
She relies on her body rhythm to keep in time with the other dancers.
“During the rehearsal process I learn to memorise the rhythmic flow of the consecutive movements that the choreographer wants. Unfortunately, this alone is not enough to keep me in time with the music.
“I have to use further crutches – like my fellow dancers. They become my ears during performances.
“I have somebody standing side stage to assist me,” said Botha.