Ballerinas dance around the World
Two young Knysna dancers from Oakhill School, Hannah Micklewood and Dina du Plessis, have literally danced across the world this year following their passion and commitment to ballet.
Hannah and Dina are privately trained in ballet and, currently committing to an average of 12 to 14 hours of dance a week, show true tenacity in their love of ballet. They have been dancing for most of their lives.
Head of school Jannie de Villier says the school is “incredibly proud of their significant achievements borne from hard work and commitment to their art form”.
The 16-year-old Hannah has been dancing since the age of four, having been trained for 12 years by ballet teacher Sidwell Roman, who says, “Hannah is a very talented and hard-working dancer. With hours of hard work and dedication, also comes the passion, which is quite evident when you watch Hannah dance.”
Dina, who is 13, has been part of Carmen School of Dance for nearly 10 years and her dance teacher Carmen de Sousa says, “Dina dances with her whole heart, seeing challenges as goals to achieve and as opportunities to hone her craft. I’m incredibly proud not only of her achievements but also of her love, humbleness and respect for her ballet.”
Oakhill School celebrates ballerinas Hannah Micklewood (left) and Dina du Plessis, who have graced international stages this year.
Much to celebrate
It has been a magnificent year for these dancers and there is much to celebrate as they continue to follow their passion.
“I can’t believe where dance has taken me this year,” says Hannah, who has set her sights on dancing internationally. Over the course of a year, she has danced on world stages in Croatia and New York.
She qualified in 2016 as part of the South African team to participate in Croatia at the Dancestar World Masters. Every year Dancestar holds auditions all over the world and particularly in Europe, where dancers can qualify for the World Dance Masters in Porec, Croatia.
There were 7 000 dancers in Croatia, spread out over all age groups and disciplines, from ballet to many others. Among the best young talent worldwide, Hannah proudly achieved two third places, a fifth place and a 17th place.
She spent her July holiday in New York where she took up a scholarship offer to participate at the American Academy of Ballet (AAB) in their Summer School intensive four-week programme.
This was an amazing opportunity to meet and dance with dancers from all over the world and be taught by international master teachers,” enthuses the young star.
Raking in awards
Hannah recently returned from the Port Elizabeth Dance Eisteddfod, winning seven gold awards and being placed as runner-up in the senior ballet championships. In September, she will be completing her Royal Academy of Dance, Advanced 1 ballet exam followed by auditions for both the SA International Ballet Competition, which she participated in two years ago, as well as the AAB Summer School in New York next year.
Young Nadine du Plessis, known fondly as Dina by all, is petite in stature and an obvious ballet dancer on the first impression. Dina has won the top junior dancing titles across dance eisteddfods in three South African cities – Cape Town, George and Port Elizabeth. This sweet, well-spoken and humble young talent says, “I’m just doing what I love”. Dina has taken every opportunity afforded to her this year and given it her utmost, making friends along the way.
In May, Dina took part in the Cape Town Eisteddfod winning the U13 demi-character section, national dance section and being crowned overall best junior dancer. In August, she won the junior ballet section in George and immediately thereafter in Port Elizabeth won her age category and the significant title of junior ballet champion.
Dina also took up the AAB Summer Schoool scholarship and joined Hannah in New York for three weeks, fully absorbing the well-earned privilege of being exposed to international dancers and teachers.
Dina modestly plays down the achievement of taking the junior lead role in the production in New York, saying, “It has been a wonderfully rewarding and exciting year so far.”
Later this month, she will be completing her ballet season with two ballet exams in one year: the vocational graded intermediate and advanced foundation exams with the Royal Academy of Dance.
Read a previous article: Oakhill’s dancing sensations
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News