Gugulethu Ballet Project

Building Pride Through Dance

Mahle Dlambulo, Chuma Mathiso, & Aphiwe November, photographed by Alex Reneff-Olson.

In 2004, former ABT soloist Kristine Elliott attended a screening of the documentary Guguletu Ballet. Created by Kristin Pichaske, a film student at Stanford University where Kristine was teaching in the dance division, the film delved into the world of South Africa's poorest townships, where - 10 years after the fall of Apartheid - poverty, AIDS and violence had left most young people with shattered families and little hope. Amidst this sea of tin shacks, former ballet dancers Philip Boyd and his late wife, Phyllis Spira had founded Dance for All, a ballet school providing dance training to disenfranchised children of all races in the impoverished townships surrounding Cape Town, bringing joy and purpose to the children’s lives, and change to the racial landscape of professional ballet in South Africa. Inspired, Kristine wrote to the director of Dance For All in Gugulethu, asking how she could help.

Gugulethu became the first township that Kristine visited and taught in in South Africa, and she was struck by the history of the place. During Apartheid, people were forcibly relocated to the township. They decided to name it “Gugulethu,” which in isi Xhosa means “our pride.” Witnessing the spirit of people who could create a place to call their home out of nothing and call it “our pride“ deeply impacted Kristine. Since 2004, Gugulethu Ballet Project has expanded our work, teaching and providing support to dancers and schools in many other townships: Zolani, Khayelitshai, Eersterivier, Ugie, and McGregor. Yet the “Gugulethu” in our name remains. “Gugulethu” is symbolic of all townships in South Africa and is at the heart of our work: building pride through dance.

Mission

Gugulethu Ballet Project's mission is to bring the art of classical ballet to the children and youth of South African townships. Through the study of ballet, including contemporary forms built upon classical foundations, young dancers learn personal discipline, respect for themselves and others, artistic expression, resilience, and focus. Uniting art and service, Gugulethu Ballet Project partners with dance communities to expand opportunities for young people in the townships of South Africa.

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Projects

Annual Teaching Trip to South Africa

Each year, founder and director Kristine Elliott visits our partner schools in South Africa to teach classes and set repertoire for student performances. She brings with her other professional dancers and teachers, including former recipients of GBP scholarships, to expose students to different styles of dance and teaching. Through this trip, Gugulethu Ballet Project is able to directly provide meals, dance clothes, and shoes, as well as to reconnect with former students, identify young talent for future scholarship opportunities, and facilitate cultural exchanges and connections.

Financial Support for Dance Schools and Dancers

Gugulethu Ballet Project supports three dance schools in South Africa with whom we have a long history of working and maintain close relationships: Dancescape in Zolani township in the Western Cape, First Step Ballet in McGregor, and MN Foundation in Ugie, Eastern Cape. In exchange for financial aid, these schools provide Gugulethu Ballet Project with an annual report of the activities supported by the funds. We sponsor four dancers at Jazzart Dance Theatre in their three-year training program.

Scholarships for South African students to study in the United States

Each summer, Gugulethu Ballet Project provides scholarships and coordinates logistics for promising young dancers from our partner schools in South Africa to study dance intensively at one or more prestigious dance schools in the United States. We are grateful to have such wonderful partners in the United States such as American Ballet Theatre’s Dancer and Teacher Training Programs,  Alonzo King LINES Dance Center, ODC Dance Commons, San Francisco Ballet School, The New Ballet School, The Ailey School, and Kaatsbaan International Dance Center.