An emotional ceremony of diploma delivery to South African students and professors graduated in various ballet courses took place in the main theater of Montecasino, Johannesburg, on Saturday, October 27.
Nearly a hundred children, young people and teachers of different levels, trained in South Africa under the method of the Cuban School of Ballet, received their graduation diplomas from the Cuban Ambassador, Rodolfo Benítez Verson, Guest of Honor at the event.
In his speech, the Cuban diplomat highlighted the importance of the practice of ballet in children from disadvantaged neighborhoods and thanked the South African promoter, Dirk Bandenhost, for the initiative CuDanza, which unites our two countries. Since 2015, this program has two Cuban teachers who have worked tirelessly to translate the Cuban experience in teaching ballet.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Cornelia September, President of the Higher Education Committee of the National Parliament, thanked Cuban teacher Ayren Villalón for her dedication and simplicity and for Cuba's continued support for this project that helps train young dancers in South Africa, a country where there is still no national ballet school.
In the ceremony they also participated, Mrs. Xoliswa Sandra Tom, President of the Arts and Culture Committee of the South African Parliament, representatives of the Americas and the Caribbean Department of the Ministry of Art and Culture and the Provincial Directorate of Culture.