Visiting Aphiwe at Houston Ballet
by Kristine Elliott
Aphiwe in front of the wall showing Houston Ballet’s history.
Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Aphiwe November at Houston Ballet Academy, where he is a full-time student in their Professional Program!
An immensely talented young dancer, I first met Aphiwe five years ago as a student at our partner school Dancescape in Zolani, South Africa. In the years since, Gugulethu Ballet Project has been proud to sponsor Aphiwe to attend American Ballet Theatre's Bournonville workshop in New York City, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet’s intensive summer program in San Francisco, and Manhattan Youth Ballet’s three-week training program. Now eighteen, a pivotal year in his training, Aphiwe is the recipient of a full scholarship to study with Houston Ballet Academy.
Aphiwe is far from his home and family in South Africa, and it’s important to me to keep in touch and visit him in person to see how he is doing and provide any support he needs. This week the purpose of the visit, beyond checking in, was to help him move into his first apartment!
When I touched down at the airport, class was in session, so I headed straight to Houston Ballet Academy. On every visit, I am astounded by the great work Houston Ballet Academy is doing. It has incredible faculty, beautiful facilities, and a wonderful philosophy of caring for the whole person, not just the dancer.
Aphiwe is in a professional track ballet class full of the most extraordinary, talented young men. The environment is very stimulating and competitive, and this atmosphere comes down from the top. I arrived in time to see Aphiwe in class with the ballet teacher extraordinaire, maestro Orlando Molina. Maestra Molina has taken a special interest in Aphiwe due to their similar paths in life. Molina was born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, in a family situation of extreme poverty. He pulled himself out through dance, just as Aphiwe is now dancing to change his world.
I also had the opportunity to watch Houston Ballet’s new Artistic Director Julie Kent teach company class on the first day of her first season. Julie just recently joined Houston Ballet as Artistic Director of the company in July 2023, joining Artistic Director Stanton Welch, who has served in the role since 2003. Julie came into the room, and the dancers gathered around her. She said, “I just want you to know that I care deeply about each of you. I am a mother first. I want you to eat well, sleep well, and take good care of yourselves.”
I just love what Julie Kent said. As I observed, she demanded excellence and gave notes, corrections, and pointers for the performance, but genuine caring was shown throughout. When women are at the helm of the company, it is marvelous the great humanity they bring.
After classes, we set to work moving Aphiwe into his new apartment and met his new roommate, Gabriel from Hawaii. Gabriel hasn’t been taking ballet very long, but he’s extremely talented and focused. They’ll be great roommates for each other.
We were able to find a beds for everyone, and yesterday we found a little dining room table and three chairs were donated, so the unfurnished apartment is coming together. Gabrielle’s mother is staying on for a little while to cook for them and make sure that they get situated.
Aphiwe is required to get his GED, so that is another challenge, but he’s on it! I’m proud of the work he is putting in, which will surely pay off. We were able to squeeze in a quick haircut…
And then finally, before I left, we saw Houston Ballet perform John Neumeier’s A Midsummer Night's Dream. The dancing and the theatre were gorgeous. I left the trip confident, as I have been on each visit, that Houston is a great training ground for Aphiwe. He is maturing and making great strides in his ballet training every time I see him, and I am so happy he has this wonderful opportunity.
While Aphiwe’s scholarship from Houston Ballet covers his training, Gugulethu Ballet Project provides financial support for housing, groceries, shoes, clothing, transportation, medical expenses, international insurance, phone, fun with friends, and crucially, to apply for his visa and to fly to South Africa for the interview (necessarily done in his home country), and back.
If you’re as inspired by Aphiwe as I am, I hope you’ll consider making a donation to support his studies.
With much love,
Kristine Elliott
Director, Gugulethu Ballet Project
Building Pride through Dance