by Walter Pike, father of 3, a writer, thinker, broadcaster, public speaker on how marketing has changed in the social world.
I was transported away again and again this past week as I watched all but one of the six performances of the absolutely enchanting season of the Johannesburg Youth Ballet’s Peter Pan: The Ballet. “It was a magical performance, “good enough to tour” said a prominent ballet personality and not just as a youth performance but good enough to compete with a professional company.
A friend of mine told me that one of her companions had asked “Gee – how old is Walter’s daughter?” and was absolutely amazed to find that she is only 13 and the same age as the young artiste dancing as Tinkerbelle, they appeared so accomplished and so mature. In fact it’s a huge shock to realise when they leave the stage that these are only children.
The Joburg Youth Ballet is a not for profit body run as a professional Ballet Company. The dancers are the best of Jozi who have all been auditioned for their membership. There is also an outreach program that brings in talented dancers from the Kasi. Its been around for 35 years and totally ignored the political issues of race from day one, in fact was the first completely non- racial group to represent South Africa overseas.
Peter Pan is the Johannesburg Youth Ballet ‘s(JYB) own ballet, based on J.M. Barrie’s fantastic story of Peter Pan. It was specially choreographed by it’s famous alumni Mark Hawkins, with artistic director alumni Kate Martins and used the beautiful music composed by Gerry Bosman for the UCT Ballet and which had not been heard for 30 years until the hand written score was unearthed for the show
But those are just facts.
Day after day and hour after hour I could not help be taken on a journey of fantasy as Peter Pan flew off, as Tinkerbelle died and was brought back to life by the audience reaffirming their belief in fairies clapping and words ” I do believe in fairies! I do! I do” being shouted from the audience in deep mature male voice. The meetings of red Indian’s and pirates, the pitched battle on the pirate ship fought with swords and a teddy bear, and the enchanting mermaids dance.
This show was a triumph for South Africans and the youth of the adolescent mining town that Johannesburg still is. It proves that there a seam of talent to match the richest gold seams underground.
The picture in this article is of my daughter Kathryn. I know that its not just that its “your job as a Dad” as she teases me that makes me miss the rush to the UJ arts centre theatre each evening. I think its simply because in truth “All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.”
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HI Walter
What a wonderful review….I tooo am a very proud mom of a “OLDER” dancer….that’s my daughter in the pic too (on the left)..The other SMEE…
What a wonderful opportunity for all.
Thanks
penny
Penny
It was such a lovely experience being part of of JYB. Looking forward to a few more years, such dreams for the future. Roswyn was a wonderful Smee, but really everyone was wonderful.
WOW! Walter, how beautifully you have put into words what a lot of people, including myself, can only think, yet not actually articulate! Thanks you so much!
As you know, because I was performing in another show at the time, I could not be there for the Premiere evening, but only managed to see the Saturday afternoon performance. I was blown away, and mesmerised and brought to tears by the accomplishment of the Company. How they embraced the ballet and what they brought to it was astonishing! Many of the 50 odd children had never been in a production of this scale before, some having never been in a professional environment even. Peter Pan is not just a ballet, it is a story ballet, so they had to learn the art of telling a story without words, which is very different to just doing an excerpt from an existing ballet from the Classical repertory! They had to learn about mime, using the set and stage, the use of props and characterisation, rather than just doing steps in a technically proficient way. And they really embraced and took ownershoip of the choreograpohy, characterisation and story-telling! I really was very proud of what they all did. They also realised that it does not matter what part you play in any production, even the smallest (and seemingly insignificant) part, is part of the audiences WHOLE experience. If that tiny role is not done with conviction, then the story may not make any sense at all. I am very proud to have been a part of this mammoth task and actually brag about the company all the time…. here’s to another 35 years! BRAVO!!!! Regrads Mark Hawkins xxx