A 19-year-old Hanover Park dancer has won a scholarship to a prestigious New York ballet school, but he needs funding to cover his travel costs and other expenses.
Faahkir Bestman landed the Joffrey Ballet School scholarship before writing his final matric exams last year.
He started dancing, at the age of 9, with the Eoan Group and discovered his passion for ballet when he joined the Halman Walk Youth Group in Hanover Park where he and his wheelchair-bound sister discovered different types of dancing.
At 12, he won the Christopher Kindo Scholarship, which allowed him to attend the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg. Two years later, at 14, he won an Intocast SA bursary that covered all his expenses through high school.
A BackaBuddy campaign, managed by the Johannesburg Youth Ballet, has so far raised more than R90 000 of a R150 000 target to cover flights, visas, medical insurance, clothing and dance gear, and living expenses.
Mark Hawkins, Johannesburg Youth Ballet’s artistic director, said many talented young dancers sought to dance for a living, but few had Faahkir’s talent, commitment, passion, and focus to achieve despite adversity.
“I have seen his growth as an artist in all genres of dance. He is eager to learn, takes and applies corrections and is passionate about everything he does. He is a bright and humble young man, with incredible stage presence, that I know is destined for greatness.”
Faahkir said his granny had always been his number-one supporter because without her, he wouldn’t have been able to get to classes.
“I thank all my teachers, Abeedah Medell, and every single person that is supporting me. I would like to experience as many different dance companies as I can because one is always learning, and it’s just exciting to see how someone else teaches.”