Excitement is running high behind the scenes of the Port Elizabeth Dance Festival (PEDF), which is celebrating 40 years with local dancers and studios with a sparkly Ruby Themed Festival at the Savoy Theatre from August 23 to 28.
Traditionally, a 40th wedding anniversary is symbolised by a ruby. PEDF, like a good marriage, has had a committed relationship with the development of dance in the Eastern Cape for 40 years, a milestone that will be marked this year only because COVID-19 had them on pause in 2020.
The festival was founded in 1981 by Jennifer Abraham and Hermione Ballinger to provide stage a performance opportunity for all dancers and the benefit of feedback from professional adjudicators.
This year’s dancers will be treated to a highly experienced adjudicator, Brigitte Reeve Taylor, to assess their dancing. Taylor’s accomplishments include being a freelance dance choreographer who has taught master classes worldwide, Horton Technique Trainer at UCT, local and international AIDT examiner, IDO international judge, founder of the popular Dancers Love Dogs, and mass event choreographer.
All the traditional much-loved trophies and awards will be up for grabs at the festival as usual, as well as a few extra very special awards for 2021. This year every participating dancer will receive a special PEDF 40-year commemorative medal.
“PEDF has grown significantly over the last 4 decades and is now proud to host every dance form including ballet, contemporary/modern, tap, hip-hop, Spanish, Indian, Irish, African, fusion/free movement/ballroom dancing, cheerleading and adaptive dance (freestyle),” said Nici Lovemore, daughter of the late Hermione Ballinger, who is continuing her mother’s legacy as chairperson of PEDF.
“The well-being, development and evolvement of Dance in our region remains the very essence of PEDF.”
The festival will culminate in a ruby gala celebration at the Savoy Theatre on Saturday, August 28, which will feature the performance highlights of the festival as well as the awards presentation. All COVID-19 protocols will be observed.
- Dance teachers from all dance studios in the Eastern Cape are invited to register their students for the festival by sending an email to PEDF secretary Carol-Anne Cash at pedancefestival@gmail.com or contacting her at 084 502 3300, before June 25.
