adminwas built 35 years ago has housed and trained the national dancing community for decades, is a major disaster and throws doubt over the future of dance in Zimbabwe.
Chairman of the Dance Trust of Zimbabwe Tereza Carter, said that “Rebuilding The National Ballet Centre, is critical to ensure that all the gains over the past 35 years are not jeopardised.
“Dance in Zimbabwe must continue and it’s important that The National Ballet Centre remains at the hub of that national project.”
He, however, appealed to well wishers, friends of dance and the corporate world for assistance through The Dance Trust of Zimbabwe that operates from the centre.
The National Ballet Centre, situated on East Road, Harare (behind Reps Theatre) has staged many shows over the years including its annual dance festival, Starlight Dancing. It is also registered as a Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) examination centre and its facilities are used daily by many of Zimbabwe’s top dance studios and dancers including the Tumbuka Contemporary Dance Company, The
Dance Foundation Course, The Outreach Project and the National Ballet dancers themselves. When the Ballet Centre initially opened, it focused on classical ballet.
Later it was then realised that it was essential to take dance to the community as a whole, especially to the high-density suburbs.
“Vana vano tamba” (children who dance) was soon launched in 1984 – a project initially confined to children under twelve in Harare’s high-density areas who would otherwise have had no exposure to dance other than traditional.
The teachers went to various schools and a class was given on a Saturday morning to teenagers, who formed the City Youth Group. A few dancers, who showed potential, were awarded scholarships to learn ballet at a more advanced level from classical teachers. This initiative soon led to the first workshop.
Online Reporter