Young SA dancers can compete for scholarships to train in New York

Aspiring South African dancers will have the chance to compete on an international stage when the American Academy of Ballet (AAB) brings its Performance Awards Competition to the Roodepoort Theatre on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Founded by South African ballet trailblazer Mignon Furman in the early 1990s, the AAB has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading ballet training institutions. Its Performance Awards programme allows young dancers to perform choreographed routines before expert judges, receiving certificates, medals and invaluable feedback designed to boost technique, artistry and confidence.

The competition will feature both junior and senior divisions, with age-appropriate levels ranging from 10 and under to no maximum age. Top prizes include a full scholarship to the prestigious AAB Summer School of Excellence in New York, covering tuition, accommodation, meals and R10 000 towards airfare – a total value of R85 000.

Additional scholarships of R4 000 each will be awarded to three dancers’ studios, while teachers of the winners will receive invitations to the AAB Teachers’ Seminar in New York. Entry fees are R500 for juniors and R600 for seniors.

Auditions ahead of the national competition will be held across four South African cities from 8 to 13 November: Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban. Dancers can select the most suitable level for their solo performance from the AAB syllabus.

“The Performance Awards Competition is designed to inspire growth, artistry and joy in young dancers,” says Laurence Kaplan, AAB Executive Director and son of Mignon Furman.

The AAB’s Summer School of Excellence attracts students from around the world and is supported by an international faculty with teachers from the Paris Opera Ballet School, Royal Ballet School Antwerp and New York City Ballet.

Dancers and teachers interested in entering the competition can register online at https://forms.gle/kLeAj3AmzT8TBGVg8