Hi, I'm Robynn, and I'm a student of the potential of the body, the marvels of the mind, and the beauty of it all combined in ballet.
As the editor, BodyMindBallet is where I get to learn, to share and to enjoy this wide world of dance - and with every day I gain an ever richer respect for the athleticism of dance and the skill of performance artistry.
I’ll admit, there was a time when I would dread unset classes. I was so anxious about standing in front that I’d make damn sure to always aim for the middle of the barre – you know, the safe zone, always with someone in front and behind to copy. Class after unset class, I would […]
Mikhail Baryshnikov once said “No one is born a dancer. You have to want it more than anything”. Similarly, no one is born with success. Even with a natural born talent, success can never be guaranteed based on your past, but rather as a result of how you think and what you do each day […]
If you were curious, like me, as to how a ballet company could possibly partner a Boeing (yes, a real plane in the sky, not a plus-sized dancer – sies don’t be rude); or if you missed this aerial ballet performance at the recent Swartkops Airshow outside Pretoria, we’ve put together a quick 30-second photo […]
Less than a year after their first event, the second Dancers Love Dogs charity performance will take place at Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre on Saturday 25 May, with an exciting line-up of top dancers and performers including the Cape Town City Ballet and Bovim Ballet. They’re all collaborating towards the mass sterilization of dogs in […]
The fourth Cape Town International Ballet Competition (CTIBC) takes place from 17 to 23 February 2014 at the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town, with the addition of a third age group for competitors. [Update: The competition was renamed to the South African International Ballet Competition in December 2013, read more here.] Taking place every […]
Gene Kelly once said that the “the history of dance on film begins with Astaire“. Considering that he was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute, and was recognised for his importance and influence by such dancing greats as Rudolf Nureyev, Michael Jackson, George Balanchine and Mikhail Baryshnikov, […]
Okay, think about it for a moment, the ballet company can’t do much choreography with a Boeing while it’s sitting heavy-as-a-heffalump on the tarmac (even this sleek new generation 737-800); nor can the dancers attempt a flying corps de ballet alongside the plane in the air – that would be a little undignified, what with […]
“Just take a deep breath” may be one hell of a clichéd thing to tell someone who’s stressed out of their mind. But scientists have found that it’s actually exactly what’s required to stop the body’s biological and chemical stress response and create a calmer state of mind. For dancers, this knowledge of how to […]
I love food. Yes, even the sad little brussel sprouts can take their place on my plate. But there’s only so much a girl can eat before reaching that “uh-oh, I’ve over-done it again” moment. So here’s the best advice I’ve heard to avoid overeating and be kind to your waist-line and your health. Before […]
Stars of the Ballet Moscow – a traveling troupe including renowned soloists and award winners from various leading Moscow ballet companies such as Bolshoi Ballet, Imperial Russian Ballet and others – will perform in cities across South Africa in June and July 2013. With choreography by former Bolshoi Ballet director Yuri Vetrov, the principal dancers […]
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A few surprises revealed in Joburg Ballet’s Don Quixote casting
Don Quixote is known to be one of the most lively, big, bold and vibrant ballets, and we should be expecting exciting things from Joburg Ballet who love to snatch every opportunity to show off their virtuoso skills. Don Quixote opens at the Joburg Theatre tonight, 28 August, and runs until 13 September 2015, but […]
Joburg’s leading dancers perform in Ballet Highlights Gala – new format, new venue
For three performances only, Joburg Ballet are visiting a new venue with a shorter one-hour programme at a smaller price-point, aiming to take the best ballet highlights to more people. And with an impressive sounding line-up of popular dance pieces, you might want to take up the opportunity too at the Roodepoort Theatre this weekend […]
Cape Town City Ballet takes Thumbelina to Pietermaritzburg
On 8 and 9 July, the full-length ballet of Thumbelina, a Cape Town City Ballet Youth project, will be on stage at the Hilton College Theatre produced in association with the KZN Midlands Youth Ballet Company. Starring nine principal dancers from the Cape Town City Ballet in the leading roles, and 71 ballet students from […]
Grand classical Russian ballet tour to open in South Africa this week
Having already toured to 36 cities in France since the start of the year, the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre open their South African tour on Wednesday 6 May at Montecasino in Johannesburg performing Giselle, followed by Don Quixote and Swan Lake before they head to Cape Town to perform Swan Lake at Artscape from 19 […]
A few surprises revealed in Joburg Ballet’s Don Quixote casting
Don Quixote is known to be one of the most lively, big, bold and vibrant ballets, and we should be expecting exciting things from Joburg Ballet who love to snatch every opportunity to show off their virtuoso skills. Don Quixote opens at the Joburg Theatre tonight, 28 August, and runs until 13 September 2015, but […]
Joburg’s leading dancers perform in Ballet Highlights Gala – new format, new venue
For three performances only, Joburg Ballet are visiting a new venue with a shorter one-hour programme at a smaller price-point, aiming to take the best ballet highlights to more people. And with an impressive sounding line-up of popular dance pieces, you might want to take up the opportunity too at the Roodepoort Theatre this weekend […]
Video: Is ballet a sport? Are dancers athletes?
In her recent sports and fitness article, Discovery’s online editor, Catherine Davis, asked: Is ballet a sport? And, are ballerinas athletes? To any aspiring and professional dancer, the answers to these questions are painfully obvious. Painful in more ways than one, but sadly only obvious to some. The art and pursuit of making dance look […]