The Ballet and Dance Academy of Centurus Academies housed at the Sports and Arts Exchange (Sax) in Southdowns, Irene, will have an open day on 12 July from 9am to 1.30pm. Sax is a state of the art facility with dedicated arts and sports academies run in association with top internationally recognised coaches and teachers.

The Ballet and Dance Academy (B&DA), is directed by Dirk Badenhorst, former CEO of the South African Ballet Theatre and CEO/Artistic Director of the acclaimed South African International Ballet Competition.

The B&DA will follow the Vaganova syllabus and is committed to providing talented, aspiring dancers with the opportunity to achieve their full potential in preparation for a professional career. Dancer’s progress will be managed with world-class expertise in every artistic facet.

Partnerships have been formed with some of the biggest brands in international dance, including San Francisco Ballet School, The Washington Ballet School, The Cuban National Ballet School and European (such as the Royal Ballet School) as well as South American Ballet Schools (such as the Argentine Ballet School).

Mutual exchange programmes between partner institutions will give students important international exposure.

Mzansi Productions

Mzansi Productions, a professional dance company, directed by Dirk Badenhorst and under the artistic leadership of the internationally renowned Esther Nasser, will be affiliated with the B&DA and is housed in the same studios.

The Company will, apart from their own productions and seasons, perform in Youth Ballets to be staged by the B&DA as well as promotional events and will give students the opportunity to train with and work with a professional company. Mzansi productions will be officially launched during the open day and will participate in the programme.

The purpose of the open day is to also give parents and prospective students the opportunity to experience the facilities first hand, obtain information on the syllabus, watch students and members of the professional company in action, as well as to interact and have informal discussions with Academy members and faculty teaching staff.