City outreach initiative brings ballet to Cape Town communities

A city outreach initiative is bringing ballet to communities across Cape Town, making the art form more accessible to youth and aspiring dancers.

The programme, funded by the Department of Community, Arts and Culture recently hosted holiday workshops in areas including Claremont, Mowbray, Edgemead, and Hillcrest.

Over 80 participants from Gugulethu, Mitchells Plain, Delft, Athlone and Elsies River took part.

MMC for Community Services and Health Francine Higham said the workshops allowed residents to connect with ballet in a meaningful way.

“In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in community outreaches by the Cape Town Opera, the Cape Town Philharmonic, and the Cape Town City Ballet. The city is incredibly proud to be part of this, particularly because of the positive impact it has on communities and our youth.”

Higham added that initiatives like these help to nurture emerging talent while also celebrating the rich diversity of Cape Town's communities.

“Based on the feedback we’ve seen from participants, they were thrilled about the exposure to this new art form and the opportunity to learn new skills and make new friends.”