Timel ine

1991-1994 1995-1998 1999-2001Ballet for All established as education developement programme under umbrella of CAPAB Ballet at Sivuyile College in Gugulethu with 34 Students.

Philip Boyd created the David Poole Trust in memory of David Poole to administer funds donated for the Ballet for All outreach project.

Trustees: Phyllis Spira, Owen Murray, Veronica Paeper, Marlene Carstens.

Senior students with leadership qualities began to assist with teaching and additional teachers joined.

CAPAB Ballet staged first performance at Good Hope Teachers’ Training College in Khayelitsha, initiated by Philip Boyd, which further attracted students to Ballet for All classes.

Ballet for All renamed Dance for All - added other dance styles to include African, Contemporary, Jazz dance and Spanish dance.

Replicated the programme in Langa, Nyanga and Khayelitsha.

Dance for All Established scholarship programme for students to attend Alexander Sinton High School in Crawford, made possible by made possible by sponsorship form the firm Smith Tabata Buchanan Boyes for many years.

Phyllis Spira appointed head of the scholarship programme.

First collaboration with Jazzart Dance Theatre in their production Danscape.

Beginning of many more public performances by DFA scholarship students.

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006DFA became an independant Section 21 company.

Mr Barry Tiney becomes first chairman of DFA board.

Set up a base at the Joseph Stone Auditorium, Athlone.

Philip Boyd appointed Artistic Director of DFA.

First of eight annual Stepping Out Tours, principally sponsored by National Arts Council.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu becomes DFA patron.

First Stargaze fundraiser at Baxter Theatre.

Kula Award: Philip Boyd received a Kula Award for his contribution to community development.

Finalist in the Arts & Culture Trust Awards in the category of ‘Cultural Development Project of the Year’.

Western Cape Company of the Year runner up.

Cape Argus – City of Angels Award - Philip Boyd finalist.

First Annual General Meeting at Joseph Stone Auditorium.

Second Stargaze Gala fundraiser at Baxter Theatre.

Western Cape Arts, Culture & Heritage Awards: Phyllis Spira received the ‘Life Achievement’ Award and DFA the ‘Sustained Contribution’ Award.

Finalist in the Arts & Culture Trust Awards in the category of ‘Cultural Development Project of the Year’.

Formation of the DFA Youth Company, sponsored by National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, launched at Artscape Theatre

Replication of DFA into rural area of Barrydale.

Phyllis Spira appointed as Assistant Artistic Director.

Finalist in the Arts & Culture Trust Awards in the category of ‘Cultural Development Project of the Year’.

Training in San Francisco: Nqaba Mafilika and Xola Putye, members of the Dance for All Youth Company (DFAYC), attended a seven-week summer dance course at San Francisco Ballet School.

Ackerman Family Foundation bought premises in Athlone for DFA’s use. Renovations commenced in September.

Moved from Joseph Stone Auditorium to temporary offices at Fred Walker Motors while new premises being renovated.

Annual General Meeting held at Buchanan Boyes offices with guest speaker Helen Zille (Mayor of Cape Town at the time).

Cape Town Eisteddfod: Two groups from DFA’s Junior Training Programme were awarded diplomas and the 13-and-over group was the outright winner in its section.

2007 2008 2009Moved into new DFA Dance Centre, 10 Aden Ave, Athlone and expanded Rural Outreach Programme to Montague, made possible by Breadline Africa.

Grand opening of DFA Dance Centre by Honorary Life Patron Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Dr Mamphela Ramphele and Mr John Persenda become patrons.

Tour to New Zealand with Buskaid: Three DFAYC members and one DFA Senior Training Programme student teamed up with the Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble again to perform in New Zealand.

Arts & Culture Trust Awards: finalist for the 2007 Awards in the category of ‘Arts Education’. DFA documentary: The film Dance for All, produced by German company Inside Out Film, premiered at the Encounters Documentary Film Festival.

Royal Ballet Charity Gala: The DFAYC was chosen to share the stage with dancers from the London Royal Ballet, including principal dancer Mara Galeazzi, for a Charity Gala at Artscape Opera House on 28 July.BBC Proms: Four members of the DFA Youth Company performed with the Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the famous Proms concert on 15 July.

Cape Town Eisteddfod: Two groups of DFA students from the Junior and Senior Training Programmes won the title of ‘Best Group’ in their sections and teacher Margie Sim won the award for Best Group Choreography – 13 Years and Over.

Tour to France with Buskaid: Four members of the DFA Youth Company performed at the Cité de la Musique in Paris with the Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble.

Impumelelo Innovations Award Trust: DFA received a platinum Impumelelo Innovations Award at the City Hall in Cape Town, making history by becoming the first ‘Arts and Culture’ project to win this award

Expanded Rural Outreach Programme to McGregor & Bonnivale.

Untimely passing of Assistant Artistic Director Phyllis Spira.

Philip Boyd appointed as CEO.

Hope Nongqongqo appointed as Cape Town Outreach Coordinator.

Friends and Balletomanes’ Award: Xola Putye (a soloist with the DFA Youth Company who became a Senior Soloist with Cape Town City Ballet) won the Most Outstanding Newcomer Award at the awards ceremony of the newly formed Friends and Balletomanes.

KKNK Kanna Awards: Xola Putye received the prestigious KKNK Kanna Award for Best Performance in Dance Theatre. This followed his performance, as part of the DFAYC, of Christopher Kindo’s ‘Agter Toe Deure’ at the annual ABSA Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees in Oudtshoorn

Formation of InSPIRAtions Dance Company, funded by the Department of Arts and Culture.

Premier Production season by InSPIRAtions Dance Company, Pieces of a Dream at Green Point Stadium Visitors’ Centre.

InSPIRAtionsDance Company changed direction to work on a project-by-project basis.

Launch of DFA Annual Fund Campaign.

Cape Town Eisteddfod: Margie Sim’s Sub-juniors, aged 10 and 11, competing against students over the age of 13, won the finals. The Juniors received honours and reached the finals in the amateur section.

2010 2011 201220 years of DFA teaching more than 1500 students in 20 venues.

Adaptation of training programmes into Specialised Dance Programmes.

Noluyanda Mqulwana appointed as Contemporary Ballet Programme Coordinator.

Formation of Young InSPIRAtions Performing Group.

Johnny Walker Celebrating Strides Award: Philip Boyd was a finalist

Pilot year of the DFA Bridging Programme.

Teacher Training course established and headed by Gillian Joubert.

Visit from Mr Luke Rittner CEO of the RAD in London with Chairman of the RAD, Mr Richard Thom and Olivia Lume, Administrator for the RAD in Johannesburg.

Guest teachers: Angela de Mellow and Anthony Wright former dancers with the Royal Ballet and Brian Bertscher former Royal Ballet Soloist

Stepping Out Tour to Montagu, Swellendam and Barrydale.

Two week Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP), Winter Dance Intensive for Specialised DFA students at DFA studios.

Cape Town Eisteddfod: won the finals and Margie Sim win the ‘Best Overall Choreography’ for ‘Xenophobia’ by Margie Sim

Torchbearers: Twelve DFA students travelled to Wales to participate in a cultural exchange collaborative production at the Donald Gordon Theatre in the Millennium Centre in Cardiff

DFA 21st Anniversary year. Anniversary Gala and Tribute to Dudley Tomlinson at Artscape Theatre.

DFA’s InSPIRAtions Youth Company performed Christopher Kindo’s work ‘Imvula’ at the Cape Town International Ballet Competition at Artscape Opera House.

International Tour to Wales: 12 DFA students were selected to perform at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff as part of the Torchbearers production with the Valleys kids organisation, Zip Zap Circus, Fezeka Choir, Amampondo Band and New Africa Theatre - Choreography for this production done by Christopher Kindo.

DFA’s joins the Kunstreffers Tour to Saldana Bay hosted by Artscape Audience Development department.

Torchbearers production presented at Artscape Theatre.

2013 2014 2015Dance for All nominated for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports Awards.

DFA’s InSPIRAtions Youth Company performed as guest artists at the Cape Town International Ballet Competition at Artscape Opera House.

Students from the Specialised Ballet Programme performed for the Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards at Artscape Theatre.

The Ballet Programme with choreography by Margi Sim, takes first place at the Cape Town Eistedfod.

Launch of DFA’s book ‘Pieces of a Dream” at Artscape Theatre.

Fund raising event at the British High Commissioner, Dame Nicola Brewer’s residence.

Philip Boyd and Allison Hendricks joins a group of exceptional teaches for the reality television series Dream School SA.

Guest teachers from the LEAP Programme in the USA taught at DFA.

Stepping Out Tour to Montagu, Swellendam and Barrydale.

DFA host its first fund raising Golf Day event at Westlake Golf Club.

Kunstreffers Tour to Vredenburg with Artscape Audience Development department.

The Bridging Programme students performs at the Baxter Theatre as part of a tribute performance to, known as grande dame of South African musical theatre, Joan Brickhill. Guest teacher from Holland: Allan Kempenaars Torres taught at DFA.

LEAP Programme Summer Dance Intensive teachers from the USA taught at DFA.

Italian Consul general Eduardo Vitali visits DFA. Showcase of Stars performance at Springfield Convent in Wynberg.

DFA presented a Winter Dance Workshop for students from the island of Reunion in collaboration with Basil Brown’s Arts & Dance Espace.

Dance for All nominated for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports Awards

Fund raising event at the British High Commissioner, Dame Nicola Brewer’s residence

Stepping Out Tour to Montagu, Swellendam and Barrydale.

DFA first fund raising Golf Day event at Westlake Golf Club.

Kunstreffers Tour to Vredenburg with Artscape Audience Development Dept.

DFA nominated for the Ministerial Awards through the Department of Social Services.

Consul General of Germany Dr Bernt Rinnert visits DFA. Summer Dance Intensive by guest teachers from the LEAP Programme in the USA.

DFA students and teaching staff participates as part of the African Youth and Theatre and Dance festival at Artscape Theatre.

DFA’s Bridging Programme students performed at Archbishop Tutu and his wife Leah’s 60th Wedding Anniversary held at the City Hall.

Six of DFA’s former students successfully received places on the Jazzart three year Training Programme

The Alvin Ailey Dance Company presented a dance workshop at DFA.

DFA students performed as part of the iKapa International Dance Festival at Artscape theatre. Allison Hendricks is appointed Artistic Director.

2016 2017Dance for All nominated for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports Awards.

DFA’s InSPIRAtions Youth Company performed as guest artists at the Cape Town International Ballet Competition at Artscape Opera House.

Students from the Specialised Ballet Programme performed for the Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards at Artscape Theatre.

The Ballet Programme with choreography by Margi Sim, takes first place at the Cape Town Eistedfod.

Launch of DFA’s book ‘Pieces of a Dream” at Artscape Theatre.

Fund raising event at the British High Commissioner, Dame Nicola Brewer’s residence.

Philip Boyd and Allison Hendricks joins a group of exceptional teaches for the reality television series Dream School SA.

Guest teachers from the LEAP Programme in the USA taught at DFA.

Stepping Out Tour to Montagu, Swellendam and Barrydale.

DFA host its first fund raising Golf Day event at Westlake Golf Club.

Kunstreffers Tour to Vredenburg with Artscape Audience Development department.

The Bridging Programme students performs at the Baxter Theatre as part of a tribute performance to, known as grande dame of South African musical theatre, Joan Brickhill. Guest teacher from Holland: Allan Kempenaars Torres taught at DFA.

LEAP Programme Summer Dance Intensive teachers from the USA taught at DFA.

Italian Consul general Eduardo Vitali visits DFA. Showcase of Stars performance at Springfield Convent in Wynberg.

DFA presented a Winter Dance Workshop for students from the island of Reunion in collaboration with Basil Brown’s Arts & Dance Espace.

Dance for All nominated for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports Awards

Fund raising event at the British High Commissioner, Dame Nicola Brewer’s residence

Stepping Out Tour to Montagu, Swellendam and Barrydale.

DFA first fund raising Golf Day event at Westlake Golf Club.

Kunstreffers Tour to Vredenburg with Artscape Audience Development Dept.

2018Concerto la Danza - first performance with some of Cape Town’s finest young musicians from the Cape Music Institute.

Relaunch in April with a name change to Dance for All South Africa.

Cape Town Eisteddfod with Ballet students, results where honours, diplomas and merits.

An addition to the success stories with another student being accepted onto Jazzart Dance Theatre’s Three-Year Artistic Development Programme.

Department of Cultural Affairs & Sports Awards Dance for All has been shortlisted for a Cultural Award in the category (Best contribution to the Performing Art: Dance)

2019Two of our senior students, David Maluleka & Amohelang (Amo) Rooiland, were invited to participate in a two-week International Ballet Intensive, designed to prepare young South African ballet dancers for the international stage and for ballet competitions. presented by SAIBC CEO Dirk Badenhorst.

DFA’s Bridging Programme students performed in the 15 th Baxter Dance Festival as part of the first Highfliers programme

Bridging Outreach Programme student, David Maluleka, & Senior Ballet student, Amohelang (Amo) Rooiland, received placings to further their training at theCape Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA) from the beginning of 2020

Towards the end of the year Khaya Magantsela, 2019 Bridging Outreach Programme student, was placed as a the full-time training programme at the Magnet Theatre for 2020.

Junior Ballet students all achieved distinctions for their external exams.

DFA’s Artistic Director, Allison Hendricks, was invited to become a South African board member of SageNet (South African German Network).

AGYI (African German Network): DFA’s Artistic Director was invited to attend a conference in Berlin as part of an initiative to collaborate with German partners/organisations.