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21 years ago a Cape Town principal ballet dancer, Philip Boyd decided to teach children in a township in Cape Town to dance. He was not sure if he would be met with an empty classroom, but 34 children were waiting for him. From then on he rushed between rehearsals to give free dance classes to township children. He believed that giving historically disadvantaged children the opportunity to dance , not only offered them enjoyment, fitness, took them off the streets but also built self esteem through the medium of dance.
Dance for All, his non governmental organisation in Cape Town was born then and 21 years later it has it’s own building, teaches over 1000 children ballet, contemporary and African dance and runs outreach classes. It offers historically disadvantaged children the opportunity to learn the skill of dance .It trains professional dancers and has developed a unique indigenous dance company.
As Archbishop Desmond Tutu says , ‘most of the children who benefit from Dance For All are all too familiar with economic struggle as well as challenging circumstances at home or in their environment. For them it is a haven where they are nurtured and encouraged to realise that these circumstances do not define them and that they can dare to dream of making a better life for themselves.’
I am inspired by projects that make a differece in a positive way. This project is changing the lives of many and as I call it, it gives people the oppurtunity to ' Pirouette out of Poverty'.