BALLERINA GIRL
Dancing her way to top
EAST LONDON-born ballerina Caitlin Smith was officially promoted to soloist dancer in the Cape Town City Ballet this week.
The 24-year-old dancer joined the company as an apprentice in 2013, receiving a contract with the Corps de Ballet the following year.
Now this impressive new milestone has validated all her hard work and commitment to her art.
“I am so excited and grateful for this opportunity.
“It is a goal I set for myself from the very beginning and I’ve been working extremely hard towards it for a while now. It is incredibly motivating and special to have been able to achieve this,” said the passionate dancer.
“It entails a much bigger and more demanding workload as you are never able to just focus on one role at a time. There is more pressure, as every performance has an effect on your future casting for upcoming ballets.”
Smith’s love for ballet started when she took her first dance class at the Christian Dance Academy (CDA) in East London at just eight years old.
CDA founder and ballet teacher Katie Ansell trained Smith for 11 years before she started her career with the CTCB.
Smith also trained with Jacqui
Wells over the years.
“Ballet class was something I looked forward to all week.
“The CDA studio became my second home as I spent most, if not all of my free time there,” Smith said, who had her parents’ constant support and encouragement.
“I’m incredibly proud of Caitlin, but I’m really not surprised. Her hard work and commitment to doing what she does – and doing it so beautifully – has always amazed me and I had no doubt that she would achieve great things,” said Ansell.
Smith and her colleagues are often preparing for up to six back-to-back productions with the company.
This means the dancers spend seven to eight hours rehearsing and training every day, while having to perform every evening.
“No matter how sore or tired you are, you still have to suck it up, put on your tiara and pointe shoes and get up on that stage to perform and enchant the audience,” said Smith.
She will perform her first principal role as Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, in CTCB’s production of Giselle starting at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town on July 6.
She will also perform at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown on June 29 and 30 in the company’s production of Romeo and Juliet .—