The local ballet dancer Cleto van Rooi can tick off another highlight in his young dance career. Next month he will portray the acclaimed South African ballet dancer Dr Johaar Mosaval in the production Dreaming Dance in District Six: The Johaar Mosaval Story.
Cleto was approached by the District Six Museum and Artscape to play the role of young Mosaval.
Born in District Six in Cape Town in 1928, he became the first black South African to be appointed senior principal dancer at the Royal Ballet in London. This meant Mosaval was in the highest ranks of his profession.
While there he danced before Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Princess Margaret. Mosaval returned to South Africa in 1976 and started teaching ballet in Mitchell’s Plain and Paarl. The following year he opened a ballet school and also became the first black inspector for ballet schools under the then administration of Coloured Affairs. Mosaval, however, resigned from this position when he realised he could share his ballet knowledge only with a certain section of the population.
Considering his ballet school was multi-racial, the apartheid government decided to close it, but he found other ways to continue sharing his passion.
Cleto, a Grade 12 learner at Paarl Boys’ High, said he felt honoured “to be seen as good enough” to portray Mosaval, whom he considers a living legend.
“I am so thankful for this amazing opportunity and am so excited to be dancing for him as well. I knew of Dr Mosaval but didn’t know him personally, and now I can actually get to know him and be able to work with him on this production.”
The production consists of several roles Mosaval portrayed in other ballet productions over the years. One of them is Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a fairy who makes the wrong people fall in love and creates chaos. In Dreaming Dance in District Six Cleto will portray a young Mosaval in the Puck role.
Cleto says he looks forward to dancing for Mosaval as well as “the role he danced and also to see all the experiences he went through, as told through dance.”
The 17-year-old also represents Beverley Pitout School of Dance, Mowbray Academy of Dance and Cape Junior Ballet, through which he landed the role of Mosaval. Dreaming Dance in District Six will take place from 2 to 4 March at the Artscape Opera House. Other ballet productions Cleto will be in is Cinderella in Durban in March and Coppélia in Pietermaritzburg at the end of April.
Morné van Rooi describes his son as a “dedicated young man who strives to be the best in everything he tackles.”
He said his son had shown interest in ballet from a tender age, and as a father and sportsman allowed him to follow his passion. Van Rooi added parents should support their children in every opportunity they have.
“Seeing Cleto grow in ballet and loving it makes us proud parents. He is super-competitive and puts in the hours to reach his goals in everything he sets his mind to. We as parents try to assist in striking the right balance between academics and culture. I am a super-proud dad and encourage all dads to stand behind your sons, and assist them in becoming well-balanced, level-headed independent gentlemen in life.”
