Concert angers parents
Year-end dance promise ‘not kept’
PARENTS allege a dance academy “duped” them with the promise of a year-end concert at a theatre.
Instead they had to pay for the graduation at a school.
The parents paid more than R1 000 each for their children at an umhlanga preprimary school to be given lessons by the Jessica Krish Dance Academy.
They said the graduation concert was supposed to be held at the Sibaya izulu Theatre. But it will now place at a school in umhlanga and they had to pay extra.
The academy is owned by Jessica Krish, a graduate of the Chidambaram Dance Institute in Chennai, and directed by Sudesh Behari. They give dance and drama lessons at a few Durban schools.
A parent who did not want to be named said the registration form provided in January stated awards would be presented and a graduation held on November 25 at the theatre.
“About two weeks ago, the children got forms saying the annual graduation would take place at the school in December and involved a fee to cover the cost of the trophies and certificates.
“Some parents were shocked as they had received no prior notice, while others were disappointed it would not be held at Sibaya.”
In 2010, dance and drama pupils in Joburg were allegedly left in the lurch when Krish closed a school. Krish said at the time parents had been notified of the closure that was due to financial reasons.
Behari said the academy had been going for 21 years and the graduation fee was to cover the costs of the year-end event, including venue hire, sound, lighting and trophies.
“The registration form at the beginning of each year is for parents to give consent to their child to be part of our school.
“The term fee of R350, which is ridiculously cheap compared to other activities, is merely for the child’s tuition, which is clearly stipulated.
“We implement a graduation fee, just as other schools have an entry fee for a debs ball or excursions, to offset the cost of the event,” said Behari, adding that graduation forms were sent in June.
Of the Sibaya venue, Behari said: “If children are slow to grasp the basics within six months, they will not be able to participate on an international platform, but will perform at a smaller venue where the child is more confident.”
Those ready to graduate from other dance schools would do so at the theatre on November 25.