In a charming converted church hall in Hermanus something extraordinary happens three times a week. Where hymns once echoed the gentle piano accompaniment now guides a unique ballet class where grace knows no age limit, and Jo-Ann Strauss was there to witness it all.
The television personality and former Miss South Africa recently visited Hermanus as part of her inspiring ARTdacity YouTube series, with a mission close to her heart: proving that art doesn’t require formal training to enrich our lives. Her destination? A meeting with ballet legend Phillip Boyd, whose remarkable journey from international stages to a Hermanus church hall embodies everything ARTdacity represents.
Few Hermanus residents may realise they share their town with true ballet royalty. Boyd isn’t just any dance teacher; he’s a former principal dancer with the former Capab (Cape Performing Arts Board) and life partner of South Africa’s only prima ballerina assoluta, the late Phyllis Spira.
Boyd’s journey began with a childhood moment that would shape his destiny. “He accompanied a boyhood sweetheart to her ballet classes and immediately became mesmerised by the art form,” Strauss discovered during their conversation. Unlike many artistic pursuits that face family resistance Boyd was fortunate; his academic parents supported his unconventional career choice wholeheartedly.
The story deepened as Boyd shared memories of South African ballet’s golden era. “Names such as Dulcie Howes and David Poole were spoken of with awe,” Strauss related. It was Howes who, on a visit to Johannesburg, recognised Boyd’s potential and invited him to join her prestigious Cape Town school. What followed was “a world of rigorous discipline and ruthless training”, exactly what the young dancer craved. Boyd excelled, eventually becoming one of Capab’s principal dancers. His first partner was Nicolette Loxton, but it was with Phyllis Spira that he found his perfect match, both professionally and personally. They moulded together in flawless synchronicity, physically and spiritually, creating not just stunning performances but a life partnership that would last until Spira’s death.
But Boyd’s story extends far beyond personal success. He took over David Poole’s groundbreaking “Ballet for All”, a school born from the pain of District Six’s forced removals, created to help disadvantaged children. Boyd and Spira renamed it “Dance for All” continuing Poole’s vision of making ballet accessible to everyone, regardless of background.
Today, in what was once Christiaan Pinkton’s studio space, Boyd has created something unique. The former church hall now features specialised flooring and ballet bars, supporting what may be the world’s most inspiring dance class; students aged 44 to 77 prove it’s never too late to embrace art. “I want to share the message to pause and consider what artists are trying to communicate to us,” Strauss explained. “Art is here to enrich us in many different ways.”
Boyds Ballet Belles students embody this philosophy perfectly. They didn’t start ballet as children, didn’t attend prestigious schools and won’t perform at international venues. But they experience the same joy, discipline and transcendence that has made ballet beloved for centuries.
Through her ARTdacity series Strauss is on a mission to democratise art appreciation. Her Hermanus visit perfectly illustrated her core belief: that art’s true value lies not in exclusive training or elite access, but in its power to enrich any life willing to embrace it. “Apart from an extraordinary dance career,” Strauss reflected after their meeting, Boyd’s Dance for All is a story of success, devotion and love. A story worth listening to.
As Strauss’ camera captured the afternoon light filtering through the converted church hall, watching Boyd guide his mature students through positions and port de bras, the true magic became clear. Here, in Hermanus art continues to transform lives, not because of formal credentials or professional aspirations, but because of passion, dedication and the simple belief that beauty and grace belong to everyone.
The ARTdacity series continues to explore similar stories across South Africa, proving art matters not for its exclusivity, but its incredible ability to include, inspire and enrich lives at any stage.
