Timeline

1991-1994

1991-1994

Ballet for All was established as an education development programme under the umbrella of CAPAB Ballet.
Ballet for All was started 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.
Trustee: 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.

1995 – 1998

1995 – 1998

Ballet for All renamed Dance for All – added other dance styles to include African dance , Contemporary, Jazz dance and Spanish dance
Replicated the programme in Langa, Nyanga and Khayelitsha.

1999 -2001

1999 -2001

Dance for All established a scholarship programme for students to attend Alexander Sinton High School in Crawford, made possible by sponsorship Firm Smith Tabata Buchanan Boyes for many years.
Phyllis Spira appointed head of the scholarship programme.
First collaboration with Jazzart Dance Theatre in their Danscape production.
Beginning of many more public performances by DFA scholarship students.

2002

2002

DFA became an independent Section 21 company.
Mr Bary Tiney becomes first chairman of DFA board.
Set up base office at Joseph Stone Auditorium, Athlone.
Philip Boyd appointed Artistic Director of DFA.
First of eighth annual Stepping Out Tours, principally sponsored by National Arts Council.

2003

2003

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu becomes DFA patron.
First Stargaze Gala fundraiser at Baxter Theatre.

2004

2004

First Annual General Meeting at Joseph Stone Auditorium.
Second Stargaze Gala fundraiser at Baxter Theatre.

2005

2005

Formation of the DFA Youth Company, sponsored by National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.
Replication of DFA into the rural area of Barrydale.
Phyllis Spira appointed as Assistant Artistic Director.
Celebration launch of DFA Youth Company at Artscape Theatre.

2006

2006

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 Kenilworth while new premises being renovated.
Annual General Meeting held at Buchanan Boyes office with Guest speaker Helen Zille (Mayor of Cape Town at the time).

2007

2007

Moved into new DFA Dance Centre, 10 Aden Avenue, Athlone.
Expanded Rural Outreach Programme to Montagu 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.

2008

2008

Expanded Rural Outreach Programme to McGregor and Bonnievale.
Untimely passing of Assistant Artistic Director Phyllis Spira.
Philip Boyd appointed as CEO.
Hope Nongqongqo, former student, appointed as Cape Town Outreach Coordinator.

2009

2009

Formation of InSPIRAtions Dance Company, funded by the Department of Arts and Culture.
Adele Blank appointed as Artistic Advisor.
Premier performance season by InSPIRAtions Dance Company, Pieces of a dream at Green Point Stadium Visitors’ Centre.
InSPIRAtions Dance Company was put on hold
Launch of DFA Annual Fund Campaign.

2010

2010

20 Years of DFA – now teaching more than 1500 students in 20 venues.
Specialised Dance Programmes were added to DFA’s training programmes .
Noluyanda Mqulwana, former student appointed as Contemporary Ballet Programme Coordinator.
Formation of InSPIRAtions Youth Company .

2011

2011

Pilot year for the start of the DFA Bridging Programme
One year Teacher Training course established and headed by Gillian Joubert.
Stepping Out Tour to Montagu, Swellendam and Barrydale.
Two week Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP-USA), Winter Dance Intensive for Specialised DFA students at DFA studios.
DFA starts new fundraising events with a Chance to Dance. initiative by former CAPAB ballet dancer, Colin Mandell

2012

2012

DFA 21st Anniversary year
DFA’s InSPIRAtions Youth Company invited to perform at International Ballet Competition at Artscape Opera House
International Tour to Wales: Torchbearers production with Valleys kids organisation, Zip Zap Circus, Fezeka Choir, Amamponda Band and New Africa Theatre where 12 DFA students were selected to perform at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. Choreography for this production done by Christopher Kindo.
21st Anniversary Gala and Tribute to Dudley Tomlinson at Artscape Theatre on the 26th August
DFA’s first Kunstreffers Tour to Saldana Bay hosted by Artscape Audience Development department
Torchbearers production, by Valleys kids organisation, presented at Artscape Theatre
Chance to Dance became Night of Stars, with well-known celebrities from Cape Town hosted at the Grand Café and Beach restaurant

2013

2013

Dance for All nominated for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports Awards
Fund raising tea-party hosted at the British High Commissioner, Dame Nicola Brewer’s residence
Students from the Specialised Ballet Programme invited to perform at the Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards at Artscape Theatre
The Ballet Programme takes first place at the Cape Town Eistedfod
Launch of DFA’s book ‘Pieces of a Dream” at Artscape Theatre
Philip Boyd and Allison Hendricks joins a group of exceptional well known teachers 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 adds their first Golf Day at Westlake Golf Club to their list of fund raising events
Kunstreffers Tour to Vredenburg with Artscape Audience Development Dept.
Night of Stars, fund raising event hosted at Fountains Hotel

2014

2014

The Bridging Programme students performs as part of a tribute performance to theatre icon Joan Brickhill at the Baxter Theatre
The Guest LEAP Programme Summer Dance Intensive teachers from the USA taught at DFA.
Dance for All receives another nomination for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports Awards
First Showcase of Stars performance at Springfield Convent in Wynberg
DFA presented a Winter Dance Workshop for students from Island of Reunion in collaboration with the Arts & Dance Espace Basil Brown

2015

2015

DFA nominated for the Ministerial Awards through Department of Social Services.
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.
6 of DFA students successfully received places on the Jazzart three year Training Programme
The Alvin Ailey Dance Company presents a dance workshop at DFA along with a performance at Artscape Theatre attended by Cape Town’s dance fraternity
DFA students performs as part of the iKapa International Dance Festival at Artscape theatre
Allison Hendricks is appointed as DFA’s Artistic Director

Passion is when you put more energy into something that is required to do it. It is more than just enthusiasm or excitement, passion is ambition that is materialised into action to put as much heart, mind, body and soul into something as is humanly possibly.Philip Boyd
I knew that if I could train and be good at dance I'd have an independent future.Theo Ndindwa
I am so lucky to have got the best training possible from people who loved us and loved what they were doing.Zandile Constable
Dancing makes me feel magical, as if anything is possible.Zandile Constable
When you dance, you challenge your body to the limit and this gave me the certainty that I could achieve my goals...'I didn't become a professional dancer, but what I got from DFA was more than dancing skills, I got life lessons; life's treasures.Monde Sitole
I can't say my life would be nothing without DFA, but it wouldn't be the way it is now. I have been all over the world and performed on many stages...People often say, "You have such good training," and I tell them exactly where I got it.Mbulelo Ndabeni
DFA changed my life in a way I could never have imagined. I learnt so much from my teachers and I hope to follow in their footsteps by helping other needy children.Bathembu Myira
Philip and Phyllie nurtured me and I'm where I am today because of them and DFA...They taught us that it was up to us to get somewhere; that we had to keep pushing ourselves so that we wouldn't stay at one level.Xola Putye
Phyllie taught me dancing, but she also taught me how to live; how to forgive. She will always be my inspiration.Noluyanda Mqulwana
If you have discipline, you can do anything...The love must [also] be there, otherwise there's no passion or commitment.Noluyanda Mqulwana
The studio and the stage are like holy ground to me. It's where I find the will and courage to go on. Dance is not just steps; it's a feeling, an energy that radiates out of you. People who are watching you feel part of it. If I can give something that heals them or makes them feel a magic moment, then that's what I want to keep doing.Byron Klassen
At DFA I feel I have a home and a family.Dineo Mphela
You can't be lazy; each day you learn a new thing, you keep pushing yourself. When you come across difficulties you find a way to overcome them.Odwa Makanda
Dancing makes me feel comfortable with myself.Tamsyn-Lucy Pretorius
Some of us won't become dancers, but because of what we learn at DFA, we all have a chance to become a professional at something.Olivia Stephaans
Technical perfection is insufficient. It is an orphan without the true soul of the dancer.Sylvie Guillem
To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful… This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking.Agnes de Mille
I don’t want dancers who want to dance, I want dancers who need to danceGeorge Balanchine
Dancing is just discovery, discovery, discoveryMartha Graham
Dance is a song of the bodyMartha Graham
Dancing is like dreaming with your feetConstanze
The truest expression of a people is in its dance and in its music Agnes De Mille
Dancing faces you towards Heaven, whichever direction you turnTerri Guillemets
To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak Indian Proverb
We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreamsAnonymous
I don't want people who want to dance; I want people who have to danceGeorge Balanchine
Dancers are athletes of GodAlbert Einstein
Either you do the pirouette or you shoot yourself. One or the other, but something must happen.Monet Robier
The most essential thing in dance discipline is devotion, the steadfast and willing devotion to the labor that makes the classwork not a gymnastic hour and a half, or at the lowest level, a daily drudgery, but a devotion that allows the classroom discipline to become moments of dancing too.Merce Cunningham
Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desiredMartha Graham
Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul's weather to all who can read it.Martha Graham
It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer.Shanna LaFleur
) If you want to dance seriously, do. You must think about it day and night, dream about it, desire it.Christa Justus
Someone once said that dancers work just as hard as policemen, always alert, always tense, but see policemen don't have to be beautiful at the same time.George Balanchine

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