Dance is an essential part of our everyday lives; it is a form of communication and jubilant expression.
It transcends all social and cultural boundaries, and allows freedom of movement and spirit.
Dance has struggled and toiled through years of sadness and great happiness and still survives today, against the odds of artistic temperament and an ever-changing social climate.
PRO ARTE ALPHEN PARK’S Dance Department is part of a very special and important school, which offers talented students the opportunity to grow and explore their creativity as dancers as well as personally.
The present Dance Faculty has evolved from a past that gives it a strong foundation to build on. The young, vibrant and enthusiastic staff has the required passion for dance, and being experts in their respective fields, the necessary skills to take the department proudly forward into the future.
The Dance Department offers: Ballet, Spanish and Jazz dance as part of the curriculum and include the theoretical subjects: Anatomy and Health care, Music & Dance History.
This is a unique environment that not only nurtures the students' individual talents, but also offers the theoretical background that allows him/her to pursue diverse career paths within the dynamic world of dance.
The talented teaching team comprises of:
Nigel Hannah (Ballet and theory), Sue Kirkland (Ballet), Cecil de Jongh (Jazz Dance), José Montoya (Spanish Dance), Maria Lorca Montoya (Spanish Dance), Cillié Burger (Music theory) & Angie Gunn (History & Anatomy Grades 10 -12), and
Ferdi Geyer accompanies all the ballet classes.
This dedicated team shares a strong bond of friendship, mutual respect and passion for their jobs that stimulate the learners to achieve their full potential.
The Dance Department at Pro Arte Alphen Park has grown from where it was, to where it is now, because of the new government in South Africa. A full transition, with a new system, has been put into place. With the new curriculum there is no HG (higher grade) or SG (standard grade), but simply pass or fail. The Dance Department is very positive about this new curriculum and offer Ballet, Jazz and Spanish dance from grade 8 - 12. In Grade 12, learners choose one practical dance genre, for their final practical exam, whereas in the past they were forced to do all three dance forms for their final practical exam.
Nigel Hannah, the head of the Dance Department, insists on Ballet being the thrust of the Dance Department. Ballet offers technical ability, teaches discipline and is the basis of all other dance forms offered. Jazz, however, is more popular in South Africa than the other dance forms, but Mr. Hannah is adamant that all three dance forms should run concurrently with each other.
When learners enroll in grade 8, those learners who have not done ballet before, are required to do two extra ballet classes a week. Extra ballet classes are available in the afternoons because the curriculum only allows for a certain amount of time for dancing in the mornings. Extra Jazz and Spanish classes are available during certain evenings. Learners are encouraged to do extra dance classes as dance is a practical art form and there is only one way to improve and that’s practice, practice, practice!!!
Pro Arte Alphen Park dancers are exposed to all aspects of dance from the moment they enter the dance department in Grade 8. This includes the department’s annual prestigious dance production at the State Theatre as well as various other productions.
Show-work is done in the evenings over and above what they do during regular school time.
Goals of Pro Arte Alphen Park’s Dance Department
To raise all-round dancers and artists with different dimensions to their lives which dance has given them.
Apart from dancing, dancers will also be able to do any of the following when they leave school after Grade 12:
Use their writing skills, as learners also learn to write articles and reviews.
Become physiotherapists with their anatomy background.
Become clothes and costume designers.
Learn commitment, as with the shows, they can not come and go as they please.
Learn time-management.
The Process of the Auditions:
DANCE AUDITION CRITERIA
Dance Audition:
Grade 8s – 11: Consists of a ballet class assessment to ascertain dance ability and aptitude for dance.
Grade 10: Learners must have passed an Intermediate Foundation ballet exam or equivalent dance exam.
Grade 11: By appointment only. Learners will only be accepted under exceptional circumstances.
Clothing requirements: Leotard or tight-fitting full piece swimming costume, tights or jazz pants and a soft pair of ballet or jazz shoes (no takkies)
During the audition class prospective learners will be assessed on:
The potential ability of the body to cope with the rigorous demands of dance.
The mobility of ankle and hip joints.
The skeletal structure of the spine and legs.
Overall muscular strength.
For more information contact Pro Arte Alphen Park Dance Department 012 460 6221 or 082 683 5088
"DANCE QUOTE"
The small child at dancing class may never become a professional dancer – but the courtesies and disciplines, as well as the joy in movement, will touch them forever."
Helen Thompson. B. (1943)
GRADUATES & DANCERS OF 2008
Who ever came up with the unforgettable phrase: "Blood, Sweat and Tears", had without a doubt subconsciously thought of this past year.
The year started off not with a bang but a nuclear explosion. In fact, so much so that rehearsals started almost immediately after coming back from holiday. However, once the initial chaos of excitement had ceased, the department settled into the prestigious State Theatre (Drama) to begin final preparations for the annual dance production, this year named "Dance Tapestry".
Blood. The ballet item of "Dance Tapestry" was the prologue to "The Sleeping Beauty".
Oh, the joys of Petipa! Our Head of Department, Mr Nigel Hannah and Miss Sue Kirkland were brave enough to take on the enormous task of teaching us the various sections, each frightful step at a time. A process which ended in magic!
Sweat. This year we had the privilege of having both Mr Ferdinand Gernandt and Mr Bisi Bangiwe working in our midst. It was a first for the department to showcase Street Jazz and African Contemporary in the production. Mr Cecil de Jongh will be on board in the department as of next year as Mr G has gone on to bluer pastures and is performing with his wife on board a luxury cruise liner somewhere in the Atlantic ocean.
Tears. Two greats, Maria-Lorca and Helene Montoya teamed up this year to create a colour-filled masterpiece of both classical and flamenco Spanish Dance. Sheer brilliance! Some learners were able to also be part of the collaboration of the Montoya Family production "España 08". Something really unique and special.
The department travelled to Sasolburg for the first time, obviously taking the production with them. Having no over-excited parents in the audience, the spectators who were there had the enthusiasm of a boulder. None the less it was a memorable experience and we hope that the department will continue to do it annually.
This year's "Arts Fusion" was once again a collaboration of PAAP's study fields. "The Waterfall and the Moon", took place at the UNISA Little Theatre. Last year’s choreographic competition winner Gisela Iles (Grade 12) was the sole choreographer for the production. Well Done Gisela!!!
Throughout the year the dance department took part in numerous dance festivals with many dancers participating in productions with their extra-mural dance studios. Despite their very crammed schedules many dance learners remain some of the better academic learners in the school and some appearing in the top 10 of the different grades.
A round of applause should be given to the Grade 12's. Better known as the guinea pigs. The "Matric's" and teachers alike have had to overcome many challenges and difficulties thanks to the new FET curriculum which has halved the weekly practical dance periods. No matter what was catapulted at us we prevailed with pride and excellence.
A massive thank you must go to all who made 2008 so wonderful! No-one could have asked for better memories...
Courtney Myburgh
NIGEL HANNAH
Nigel Hannah was a student at the Royal Ballet School from the age of twelve where his teachers included Richard Glasstone, Walter Trevor, Piers Beaumont and Terry Westmoreland amongst others. He joined the former PACT BALLET (later named The State Theatre Ballet), as a member of the corps de ballet in 1977 and in 1992 was the first dancer to achieve the status of Character Principle with the company.
His career has seen him dance nearly every character role within the ballet repertoire. Some of his most notable roles include Widow Simone and Alain in LA FILLE MAL GARDEE, Madge in LA SYLPHIDE, Dr Falké and the JAILOR in ROSALINDA and Dr Coppélius in COPPELIA.
Since September 2002 he has taught on a full time basis after being a part time teacher from 1991 at “PRO ARTE ALPHEN PARK HIGH SCHOOL” in Pretoria. From 2006 he was appointed Head of Department for Dance; this involves producing their annual show staged in the Drama Theatre at Pretoria's STATE THEATRE with the rest of the Dance Departments teaching staff. In 2007 he became cluster leader for the new national curriculum for Dance Studies in Gauteng.
Nigel has received numerous awards from DALRO, VITA, and FRIENDS OF THE BALLET. In 1993 he was the winner of the LILLIAN and IVAN SOLOMON AWARD in recognition of his services to PACT.
In 2001 Nigel was appointed Artistic Consultant to the JOHANNESBERG YOUTH BALLET.
Nigel has been asked to adjudicate and be a panellist for numerous competitions and ballet bursary awards for the RAD, Cecchetti and NSDT societies and still performs on an ad hoc basis with "The South African Ballet Theatre, "The Youth Dance Company of Tshwane" and "The Johannesburg Youth Ballet" whenever asked to do so.