2022 Year in Review
In 2022, we emerged from the pandemic with a successful trip to South Africa and brought a record number of students to the U.S. thanks to your financial contributions. Read on for our annual update, and please consider a tax-deductible donation so we can continue supporting brighter futures through dance.
Kristine’s Most Recent Trip
Thankfully, after two long years, our director, Kristine Elliott, along with Nathan Bartman (former GBP recipient) and Ciara Baldwin, was able to travel to South Africa again in March 2022. After the stagnation and isolation of the pandemic, Kristine, Nathan, and Ciara were able to inject new energy into the dance schools we support as well as renewing our relationships with dancers, parents, and local art communities.
Our Mission, Their Success
GBP believes in the unique power of ballet to transform lives. Ballet demands complete attention and commitment; learning ballet offers young people, particularly those living in difficult circumstances, time to focus on the subtleties of the body and the mind. Ballet teaches not only bodily control and an artistic relationship between music and movement, it offers a space of calm and inner quiet as we learn to center our attention on the symphony of movements ballet demands.
This year, four dancers came to the US for summer programs with GBP’s support: Aphiwe November (far right), Chuma Mathiso (middle), Mahle Dlambulo (left), and Milisa Mathiso. We’ve been able to help these young people thanks to your financial contributions, and only with your continued support will we be able to further our mission of creating opportunities for young, talented, driven, African dancers.
They teach you to [dance] the movements with feeling.
– Chuma Mathiso
Dancer Stories
With financial and housing support from GBP, Thimna Ndwe (see her here, taking virtual class while staying with our director, Kristine Elliott) completed her U.S. High School diploma through an online program while teaching ballet in Ugie, South Africa. Even more exciting, she has been accepted with full financial support to a prestigious dance conservatory in Cape Town!
Aphiwe November (seen here) came to San Fransisco for Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet’s intensive summer program, then spent three weeks in New York City studying with the Manhattan Youth Ballet, all supported financially by GBP. We’re now working to find him his next opportunity!
Through GBP’s 2021 LINES DAY AFRICA, Milisa Mathiso (seen here) was accepted to LINES Ballet’s summer intensive in San Fransisco. As a direct result, Milisa was offered, and accepted, a spot at Jazzart Dance Theatre, a contemporary dance company in Cape Town.
Don’t take the movement for granted... Don’t take life for granted.
– Milisa Mathiso
We need your support to continue our work!
Your contribution goes towards:
• Training and daily dance classes
• Transportation to important workshops and auditions
• Food
• Dance clothes and shoes
• Paying teachers
• Bringing dancers to the US to study
• Creating international ballet community