IN STEP WITH WORLD BALLET
FOR seven years, South African dancer and choreographer, Andile Ndlovu was dancing with the prestigious Washington Ballet Company in the US, so we rarely saw him on our stages. Ndlovu, 29, will soon return to dance in the International Ballet Gala (IBG), on from September 2-9, at Artscape and at several venues in Johannesburg, Hartbeespoort and Limpopo.
IBG is a satellite event of the South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC). The competition was established in 2008, by Dirk Badenhorst, to bring South Africa back into the international arena of ballet.
The competition is a biennial event. In between, the SAIBC hosts the gala to showcase excellence in ballet. Many of the artists dancing have participated in previous SAIBC events and some have won prizes. In a sense, the gala is a gathering of alumni from the competition. The only other SA-born dancer on the gala platform this year is Angela Malan, from Johannesburg. The other artists are from Russia, Spain, Mongolia, Armenia, the US, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt and Mexico.
At Artscape, two Capetonian dancers will join the line up – Chante Daniels and Neline Theron – and Paige McElligott from Johannesburg.
In Gauteng, 24 dancers will form the corps de ballet in divertissements – dancing excerpts from great ballets. The gala is a major event and has been made possible by support from South African Tourism.
In addition to providing opportunities for young dancers from this country to compete with performers from around the globe, it has become a networking platform and a springboard for our artists to launch international careers.
The competition changed the trajectory of Ndlovu’s career. In 2008, he entered the SAIBC. He won the gold medal in the contemporary section and Septime Webre, who was then artistic director of the Washington Ballet, was one of the judges. He was bowled over by Ndlovu and offered him a year contract with the Washington Ballet (Webre is now the artistic director of the Hong Kong Ballet).
“The SAIBC was the game changer for me – as an African black child who faced tough circumstances and challenges,” said Ndlovu.
“The competition actually paves the way for dancers to get noticed beyond the SA dance fraternity and make a career in ballet. So I am very much excited about dancing in the gala. It is like coming full circle: from where a significant part of my dance life began to the much awaited anticipation for people to see what I have become.”
His story starts in KwaZuluNatal where he was born and then to Soweto, where the family moved when he was seven. His entry to dance was sparked by his sister’s encouragement but initially he was in the groove of Latin American dancing. It was suggested that he take up ballet to enhance his Latin American dancing style.
After seeing Baryshnikov and Nureyev dance (on film), he pursued a career in ballet and that became his chosen art form. That led him to a contract with Martin Schonberg’s Ballet Theatre Afrikan (BTA). A while after leaving the company, he entered the ballet competition and he says the “rest is history”. Ndlovu was initially homesick but is now loving Washington. “Being in the USA is a blessing in my life. I am very much enjoying the opportunities and am very grateful I have them.” The versatile artist recently choreographed Guardian of the Pool which was performed by The Washington Ballet Studio Company (the starter company of the Washington Ballet – for new professionals). “My choreography with the Washington Ballet Studio Company was inspired by Nelson Mandela’s children’s book series and was, of course, an African story because I think African tales need a voice through choreography as well. I have received some awards and I have choreographed solos for dancers entering other ballet competitions – which were well received and won medals for the dancers I worked with. I am starting to get more active with my choreography now – I would like to choreograph in SA soon, but time will tell.”
At the International Ballet Gala, Ndlovu will be dancing a piece from Le Corsaire and a self-choreographed solo, Wandering Thought and a new work, choreographed by Adele Blank. After SA, it is back to Washington where he will start his eightth season with the company. “We begin with La Sylphide, Prodigal Son and Bolero by Ratmansky. Next year we do John Cranko’s Romeo & Juliet, Serenade and Symphonic Variations.”
With the gruelling performance and touring schedule, he fits in six hours of Arctic in the studio during the week and Pilates on the weekend. He takes time out to be with his girlfriend (also a dancer) to enjoy Washington –“Coffee at 202 Donuts and Italian food at Olazzo”.
*The International Ballet Gala is on at the Artscape Theatre on September 2 (8pm); September 3 (2pm and 6pm). Tickets cost R120-R395. Book through the box office on
021 421 7695 or at Computicket.
Ndlovu was initially homesick, but is now loving Washington. “Being in the USA is a blessing in my life. I am enjoying the opportunities”