Durbanville ballerina to represent SA at international competition

A Durbanville ballet dancer, Emma Burger, is looking forward to representing her country at the 10th South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC) this year.

The competition will be held at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town from Monday July 24 to Wednesday July 26.

Emma is in Grade 6 and attends the Curro online school, which is based in Durbanville.

“At first I started modern dancing in 2020, as I wanted to do something fun and interesting. After a year, I asked my mom if I could try ballet classes and that is where my journey into ballet began,” she says, adding that she started ballet at a northern suburbs ballet school in June of 2021.

“I fell in love with the precision of the technique and the discipline.”

Towards the end of 2022, Emma joined the Megan Davey Ballet School in Flamingo Vlei and began honing her ballet skills as a pre-vocational student.

“I had decided then that I wanted to be much more serious about ballet. I am currently taking ballet class 10 hours per week. My teacher, Megan Davey, decided that I should enter SAIBC as it is a fantastic way to be challenged, to be part of a prestigious event and to get valuable stage experience.

“Being part of it means making new friends and watching everyone perform. I love to learn and to strive to do my best - always pushing forward to achieving my dreams.”

Emma won a gold medal in the Ballet Own Solo category as well as silver for Modern Own Solo at the South African Body of Dance, which was held at the Sea Point civic centre last year.