Lifestyle/Community
Young Jewish medallists donate money back
In an astonishing display of generosity, the winners of the gold and silver medals in the scholar classical section of the 5th South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC), have donated their winnings – prizes valued at R7 500 and R5 000 respectively – back to South Africa.
ALLISON FOAT
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAT BROMILOW-DOWNING
Pictured: Caroline Grossman performs her Giselle variation in the SAIBC last week.
Gold medalist Caroline Grossman, (12), representing the US, will be giving her money to a township ballet project (yet to be named), as part of her batmitzvah project. Nikita Boris, (15), also representing America, has given her money towards ballet training for a South African dancer in need.
Both dancers train at the Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory in New York. Kozlova, a former Russian ballerina who was a judge at this year’s SAIBC, also invited South African competitor Savannah Ireland from Johannesburg to compete in the Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition next month and to attend a five-week summer school at her academy later this year.
Caroline’s mother, Mrs Grossman, said that, “She was so inspired by what we saw and how the power of dance and the arts can change lives and this world.”
The next SAIBC is in 2018.