Joburg Ballet and Gqeberha’s Carl-Lee of Feet on Fire are proud to announce an extraordinary collaboration with Brown Ballerinas Global (BBG), an internationally-acclaimed initiative dedicated to redefining ballet by championing diversity and inclusion.

This partnership marks a monumental step in South Africa’s ballet landscape, offering young ballet dancers of all cultures, genders and races in both Johannesburg and Gqeberha an unparalleled opportunity to train with world-renowned professionals. Adding to the exemplary opportunity, 10 exceptional dancers from the programme will be selected to travel to the United States for the BBG USA Summer Programme, furthering their exposure to global ballet standards.

Founded by Paula Brown, a celebrated dancer, actress, choreographer, and singer with an illustrious career spanning Broadway, television, film, and global ballet education, BBG was born out of the need to create opportunities for dancers of colour. The organisation first launched at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., through the Social Impact Programme, and in 2023, successfully facilitated a cultural exchange that brought 33 South African dancers to the U.S. to experience world-class ballet training.

“The Brown Ballerinas Global summer intensives were created to foster diversity and inclusion in ballet. By offering these programmes, we empower young dancers, provide mentorship, and create access to world-class training that they may not have otherwise. Our collaboration with South Africa is a natural extension of our mission and an exciting step towards furthering cross-cultural exchange in the ballet world,” said Paula Brown, BBG Founder and Artistic Director.