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Barrydale Moving Arts Project:
The Moving Arts Project was founded in 2005 as a joint initiative with the Totally Free organisation in Barrydale and provided the opportunity for DFA to extend its Outreach Programme to the rural areas. This satellite project has proved to be very successful and a model that DFA plans to continue replicating. Approximately 300 children, the majority of whom live in dire conditions in the areas surrounding Barrydale, attend the dance classes.
The pioneer teacher for the Moving Arts Project was Asanda Mabayi, a graduate male student of the DFA Senior Training Programme. In January 2008, Pauline van Buitenen moved from the Cape Town Outreach Programme to become the principal teacher in Barrydale.
The co-ordinator for the Moving Arts Project is Mr Anton van Vliet.
DFA Montagu:
In February 2007, DFA established another rural extension of its Outreach Programme - to the town of Montagu. The dance classes are conducted in Montagu itself and the nearby community of Zolani, which has a tremendous need for extra-mural activities for the children and youth.
The co-ordinator and principal dance teacher for the project is Fiona Sargeant who was a professional dancer with London City Ballet, NAPAC Dance Company in Durban and Cape Town City Ballet. Fiona also worked for Dance for All in its early years when it was part of Cape Town City Ballet`s outreach programme. Fiona is assisted by Vusumzi November and Africa Mtikitiki.
 
Fiona Sargeant and DFA Montagu children after performing Performing at Enqubela on Heritage Day
at Montagu Museam for Heritage Day
DFA Montagu is a pilot project that is being assessed regularly. If it proves to be an effective project, which it certainly has in its initial year, and further funding is secured, DFA plans to extend the geographical area to include the nearby town of Robertson. Robertson is also home to many underprivileged children and youth with few options for extra-mural activities and where there is great enthusiasm being expressed for the dance classes to be offered.
DFA McGregor:
As a result of the positive impact made by the Barrydale and Montagu projects, interest was sparked for DFA’s Rural Outreach Programme to expand to the nearby village of McGregor. This has been on DFA’s agenda for some time, but the capacity to deliver was not possible until recently. Fortunately, two local dance teachers Tania Garcia-Wilson and Marcelle Rosser as well as a coordinator Ilse Krogh have committed themselves to the project and, although very much in its infancy, DFA McGregor is established and currently being piloted. The first intensive two day workshop with Fiona Sargeant and some of the Zolani students from Montagu showed to be promising with a great turnout of about 40 children on the first day.
McGregor is located east of Cape Town and is home to many underprivileged children. With its lack of schooling, extra-mural and entertainment facilities, there is a great need and enthusiasm for dance classes.
 
African Workshop - September Holidays 2008 Hip Hop Workshop
The first classes were started in July 2008. Ballet is offered on Monday afternoons from 4:15 to 5:45pm and Fridays from 3:00 to 5:00pm. These sessions are divided into two 45 minute classes according to the age range of the students.
Modern dance classes are also offered on Wednesdays. The children and youth are divided into two groups according to their age range and the classes run from 3:00 to 5:00pm. Two of the caregivers who escort the children from the local Family Centre also participate in the classes.
As the third project in DFA’s Rural Outreach Programme, DFA McGregor will be likely to experience similar challenges to that of DFA Montagu and the Barrydale Moving Arts Project, but Dance for All is sure it will experience equal success. As the projects are closely located geographically there will be a lot of opportunity for them to exchange ideas and methods, as well as sharing guest teachers or combining their resources and talents to stage local, collaborative performances.
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