Audition for the American Academy of Ballet school

Test your dance skills at auditions across SA and get a chance to attend the Summer School of Excellence

DANCE enthusiasts, get ready! It’s time to put your best foot forward as you might just get the opportunity to perform at the American Academy of Ballet’s (AAB) 26th Summer School of Excellence later this year.

Auditions will be held across South Africa and this Monday, Cape Town dancers will be able to showcase their talents.

The audition will take the form of a regular ballet class. No solo variations are required. Dancers between the ages of 11 and 13 will audition at 3pm and 14 years and over from 4.45pm at Laerskool Jan van Riebeeck.

The annual programme, held on two campuses – Adelphi University, Garden City, New York and the Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York – runs from June 16 to August 10 and seeks talented dancers from various cities in South Africa.

The American Academy of Ballet was founded by

Mignon Furman, who was the director of the UCT

Ballet School before she immigrated to New York.

Each year, about 30 dancers attended the Summer

School, many assisted with the scholarships provided, which over the past five years has been in the region of R2 million.

The faculty of teachers, who will teach at the AAB

Summer School, are from the

Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal

Ballet School of Antwerp, the Vagonova Academy of Ballet, St Petersburg, Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, the State Ballet School of Berlin, New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Many dancers travel from other countries to participate in these classes. Last year, dancers from 15 countries attended the Summer School. The programme includes ballet technique, ballet repertoire, pointe, pas de deux, neoclassical, contemporary dance, musical theatre, Spanish dance, folk dance, and the optional Performance Awards. At the end of each session, the dancers perform in a theatre on campus. Dancers wishing to register for the auditions or require more information should contact Joey Oosthuizen on 082 256 6001 or email aabsummer@gmail.com

Information for the auditions:

– Dancers should arrive 30 minutes before scheduled time.

– Leotards and tights to be worn

– If on pointe, to bring pointe shoes – To bring a photo in first arabesque – Dancers must have had a minimum of two years of training and will be expected to show an ability to perform the basic ballet techniques.

– All dancers, men and women, complete the class.

– Notice of acceptance will be advised within three days.

– There is an audition fee of R300.

For the brochure and to apply online, download from this link:

PICTURE: SUPPLIED The annual programme at the American Academy of Ballet’s summer school runs from June 16 to August 10.