Five dancers will be flying the flag for the Eoan Group School of Performing Arts at a youth festival in Berlin, Germany, next month.
Emily Fortuin, 17, Jadyn Oks, 18, Jesse Bredenkamp, 18, Faahkir Bestman, 19, and Luca Oks, 15, will be performing with the German National Youth Ballet. They will be in a production called Our Songbook, which they first collaborated on in February.
The production was conceptualised in celebration of the Eoan Group’s 90th anniversary, and was staged at the Joseph Stone Auditorium then.
According to Abeedah Medell, the Eoan Group’s dance director, the production was so well-received, that their German collaborators decided it needed to be done again, but this time, on their home soil.
“This is not an annual exchange programme, but we hope for more things to come,” Ms Medell said.
Faahkir, from Hanover Park, is on a scholarship at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York, America, and Emily will be joining the Hamburg Ballet School in Germany, on a two-year programme next month.
Apart from their upcoming German trip, three of the five dancers have also taken part in the South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC), at the Artscape Theatre, which ends today, Wednesday July 26.
Faahkir performed a solo as a guest artist – after years of winning the gold for contemporary junior boys section. He also partnered with Emily in a contemporary duet at the SAIBC. Luca also took part in this prestigious competition.
Ms Medell said she is beyond proud that these dancers represent the Eoan Group on international stages.
“There are times I just smile. For Faahkir and Emily to be able to perform together before they set off for New York and Hamburg respectively. I never thought I would have this. This is bittersweet for me. This is like my farewell gift to them. And it could only be made possible because of the footsteps of Helen Southern-Holt (the founder of the Eoan Group in 1933). I am very happy for all of our dancers representing us,” Ms Medell said.
Speaking to the Athlone News before the SAIBC, Faahkir said he loves the opportunity to perform.
“It hasn’t hit me yet that I will be doing an international competition. Usually, I would stand in the wing or warm up before a performance and I would get so nervous. Even with my nerves being shot and being close to tears, I tell myself to only focus on my performance,” he said.
Emily said she is extremely grateful for the opportunity to hone her skills abroad.
“At the end of the day, if you really want something, no matter your circumstances, you will make use of the opportunities exposed to you,” she said.
Last month, Jadyn was awarded third place and Jesse took first place at the Theatre Dance Association’s Senior Contemporary Awards, which was held at the Sea Point Civic Centre.