Pictured above: back row: PDG Rodney Mazinter, Mavis Mazinter (lecturer at UCT School of Dance), Gerard Samuel (Director of the UCT School of Dance) PP Charles Rowe (Organiser RC of George). Front: Dancers - Roxanne Paulse, Thara Alcock, and Kimberleigh Hurndall

Earlier this month, 16 UCT School of Dance students and lecturers hosted a series of workshops to benefit over 100 learners in local community schools in George. This was the third annual dance tour established six years ago by Rotarian Rodney and Mavis Mazinter. Dame Mavis Becker, as she is commonly known, is an established Spanish Dance teacher and a lecturer at the UCT School of Dance for over 20 years.

The 2015 dance tour was co-hosted by the George Rotary Club and Dame Becker and UCT students were invited to showcase their talents and new directions in choreographies. In addition to the workshops, demonstrations and lively discussions, these students staged two performances at the George Arts Theatre to enthusiastic audiences. Commenting after the event, Director of the UCT School of Dance, Gerard Samuel praised staff and students for their ongoing commitment to mentoring High School learners from disadvantaged communities. “I am very proud of the contributions made by staff and our students as dancers, choreographers, young teachers, stage and company managers, on this tour.  I want to add my thanks to each one of you for your support and assistance in making this a successful event on many fronts. I know that the impact will be felt for some time especially in the schools that we visited in George and here at UCT… the after effects will remain” he said.

The UCT School of Dance has compiled Dame Mavis Becker’s Memoirs and hope to publish these later in 2015. This extraordinary educator and dancer has dedicated her life to the development of Spanish Dance in South Africa. In 1965, she was one of the founding members of the Spanish Dance Society and was instrumental in the creation of the first Spanish Dance syllabus in the country. Dame Becker joined the University of Cape Town in 1990 and after 25 years of service to the institution, she will retire on in June of this year. A special tribute production is planned for later in the year.