In Roman’s final year at the University of Cape Town’s School of Ballet in 1990, it seemed all his dreams of dedicating his life to his art were to be shattered.
"We had just come back from a tour of performing in Austria during June of my final year at varsity, when I had what seemed to be a sprained ankle. Within the next week my other ankle gave way also," Romans recalls that period in his life when he almost gave up hope.
"If that wasn’t devastating enough for a course in which everyone had to be extremely competitive and at their best all the time, the pain spread to my hips - I was in such agony my parents had to come and fetch me and take me home."
As Roman’s pain increased he was admitted to the Lamprecht Clinic in George, where he was eventually diagnosed with Yersinia arthritis, a condition that includes symptoms like stiffness of the extremities and acute pain of the back, joints and abdomen pain with fever.
"I couldn’t walk, much less do ballet. I had to sail around on my bum."
The doctors told him he could forget about his career as a dancer, yet Roman insisted on going back to finish his studies - on crutches.
"I couldn’t participate in any practical classes because of my condition, but I set my mind to it that, come what may, I was going to do my final exam and qualify!"
And this he did. Temporarily relieved from his pain and stiffness by Voltarin injections, Roman danced his final exams in October of that year and completed his ballet diploma.
"I had many mixed emotions because I realised I would never be a professional ballet dancer, but I could still teach ballet. Little did I know that this would become my destiny," he smiles with a special glint in his eyes.
Today some of Roman’s first ballet students, who started as six-year olds, are in their twenties and reaching successes of their own. One of his former students, Milwhynne Williams (21) is currently in his third year at the Central School of Ballet in London. Another, Cindy van der Merwe, now studies at the University of Stellenbosch and still does ballet part-time.
"Ballet builds character. When I was twelve and began taking ballet, I had to do so secretly because my father was dead set against it and I was only one of two boys who did it in my area," Roman recalls his determination even as a youngster.
"I nonetheless became passionate about dancing and would quietly get on my bike and paddle to another part of town to go attend class in secret - and it paid off!"
It is with these heartfelt life lessons from his own years of struggle that Roman approach the students in his classes today.
"I make an concerted effort to give each child one correction a day to make sure every individual feels assured of my attention. I take any child - boy or girl - who dreams of being on stage, whether they are any good or not, and work to take them to a level where they achieve something in themselves. Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than seeing that process take place in the once timid or inferior child. I fully believe in the holistic approach to any child’s development and ballet is one of the most effective tools I know of how to achieve this."
Roman has had his own ballet studio built at his home in 2006 and has also been teaching Pilates for the last six years. He teaches ballet at Fraaizicht Primary School too. Anyone wanting more information can contact The Sidwell Roman School of Ballet on 082 824 9323.
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Sidwell Roman busy with some of his Pilates students at his home studio.
ARTICLE: ANOESCHKA VON MECK
