Ukrainian develops South Africa ballet

A Ukrainian created and developed a successful ballet studio in Johannesburg. Alisa Balayan’s students – Rahl Burke and Noelia Schulz – won the winning places at the International Ballet Competition of South Africa.

“Budding ballerinas Rahl Burke (bronze) and Noelia Schulz (silver) competed against students from top-ranking dance institutions around the world and faced a panel of revered judges, including artistic directors of National Ballets,” the journalists said. 

One of the ballerinas won a scholarship to one of the best ballet schools in the world – the Berlin State Ballet School.

“Adjudicators are always of the highest calibre. … Studying at one of the best Dance Institutions in the world, such as Berlin State Ballet School would offer Rahl and Noelia and abundance of opportunities, primarily a real chance to join one of the best companies in the world, such as Berlin Ballet Company – StaatsBallett Berlin, or Royal Ballet in UK,” Balayan says. 

At Orlovska Dance Studio, students train both for maintaining their physical condition and for their professional careers.

“I realize that not every child would want to turn dance into their career. However, ballet can still provide so many benefits to kids, whether they want to dance professionally or recreationally,” Alisa says.

The Ukrainian Association of South Africa emphasizes that South African ballet dancers shine on international stages thanks to Alisa’s efforts.

“We are often asked what Ukrainians do in South Africa? Alisa, the founder of Orlovska ballet studio comes from a family of ballet dancers, and the name of the studio is inspired by her grandmother name, who was a prima ballerina in Lviv Opera House, Ukraine,” Ukrainian Association of South Africa wrote.

Ukrainians in the South African Republic also oppose Russian ballet artists’ performances. In April, for example, the Ukrainian Association of South Africa called for a boycott of the St. Petersburg Ballet Theater’s performances in South Africa, including the Swan Lake performance scheduled for this year.