A special showcase for Sidwell

KNYSNA NEWS - Two years since their last live showcase, the dancers of the Sidwell Roman School of Ballet returned to the stage to not only round out their year, but to also celebrate a very special landmark for the studio.

The dance showcase was titled It's About Time!!!, and was held over two days at the Dutch Reformed Church hall in Fitchat Street.

The show was brilliant from start to finish. Dancers were kitted out in beautiful outfits that were crafted by hand by the parents of the dancers. Each movement oozed grace and audience members were hard-pressed to find a wrong step by the dancers.

It was not all about sheer grace and poise though, as there were a few adorable performances by some of the studio's pre-schoolers.

There were even special performances from some of the moms and dads, giving their children a right chuckle at the sight of their parents in tights up on stage.

Ophelia Share during the very cute 'Under the Sea' performance.

There were even special performances from some of the moms and dads, giving their children a right chuckle at the sight of their parents in tights up on stage.

At the end of the second show on Friday 10 December, Roman was treated to a very pleasant surprise. After his dancers' excellent performances, he teared up as messages of congratulations from past students, teachers and colleagues were played over the projector and speakers congratulating him on the studio's 30-year anniversary.

It's not often one gets to turn 30 twice, but for Roman the school is an extension of himself and the studio's birthday may as well have been his own.

Gabriella Jonsson and Ava van Heerden in 'The Ants March'.

The Sidwell Roman School of Ballet was founded in 1991 by a young dance student by the name of, well, Sidwell Roman. Since then Roman has seen hundreds if not thousands of young and aspiring dancers pass through his studio. Some of these have continued to pursue careers in dance, while others have ventured into different walks of life.

Nonetheless Roman seems to have left an indelible mark on all of them, as is evident in the sheer number of people who left the touching messages for him. Not one failed to mention how the lessons they learned from Roman have helped them in life, be it in dance or in something else.

Reuben van der Merwe during his 'Zombie' performance. Photos: Blake Linder