Joburg Ballet Academy announces 2026 Debut Dancer Bursary award

The Joburg Ballet Academy has announced that the 2026 Debut Dancer Bursary Award presentation will take place on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 June at the Roodepoort Theatre.

The event will feature 10 finalists, selected at a recent open audition for young ballet dancers aged 13 to 14, who train in RAD, Cecchetti, and other methods at various private studios across Gauteng. The finalists will participate in a curated class with live piano accompaniment and perform a stage variation under the guidance of Anya Carstens, former principal dancer of Joburg Ballet.

The winner of the Debut Dancer Bursary 2026 will be announced during the final performance on Saturday June 6.

The judging panel comprises Gail Myburgh, National Chair of the Cecchetti Society of Southern Africa, Olivia Lume, National Director of Africa for the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), and Revil Yon, principal dancer of Joburg Ballet.

The programme will include:

• Performances by Joburg Ballet Academy dancers, including an extract from Paquita, staged by Monier Javier, and a new contemporary work Hope, choreographed by Roseline Wilkens. According to Wilkens, “Hope is an optimistic state of mind that expects good happening, even when things seem uncertain.”
• A rendition of Oliver Twist performed by the Joburg Junior Ballet, with guest artists Nigel Hannah as Fagin and Jan Venter as Mr Bumble. The piece is choreographed by Jo Stoller, Tracey McNiven, and Christine Sheperd, who bring years of experience presenting successful works.
• Performances by studios affiliated with the Academy, including works by Karen Beukes, Vanessa Eberol, and Natasha Ireland, in line with the Academy’s ongoing collaboration with local dance teachers.

The Joburg Ballet Academy continues to provide young dancers with opportunities to work with professional teachers and dancers, further developing their skills. Financial support for the Academy is provided by the South African Ballet Theatre Trust, under the chairmanship of Joburg Ballet’s honorary Life Patron Annzie Hancock.

Event details:

• Venue: Roodepoort Theatre
• Dates: Friday 5 June 5, at 7pm; Saturday 6 June 6, at 2pm and 6pm.
• Tickets: R230
• Bookings: Webtickets