Faculty

Karen was born in Johannesburg and matriculated at the Johannesburg High School for Art, Ballet & Music in 1982 under Jose Pretorius. She trained privately with Wilcarina van Niekerk from the age of 6 and achieved the RAD Advanced qualification in1982. During this year she also attained the Spanish Dance Society Advanced and the ISTD Greek Intermediate.

She entered the UCT Ballet School in 1983 under the directorship of Professor David Poole and completed the Diploma course in 1984 with Phyllis Spira – Prima Ballerina Assoluta as her third-year mentor and coach. In this year she also achieved the ISTD National Intermediate.

Karen was accepted into the CAPAB Ballet Company (now Cape Town City Ballet) under the directorship of Prof. David Poole and later Veronica Paeper from 1986 until July of 1991. In September of this year she gave birth to a daughter, Emma.

In 1994 Karen obtained her ISTD Cecchetti Advanced with Honours and the ISTD Cecchetti Associate. In 1999 she obtained the ISTD Cecchetti Licentiate and in 2000 the Maestro Cecchetti Final Diploma.

In 2000 and 2001 respectively Karen co-produced David Poole’s The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty for the Port Elizabeth Youth Ballet.

Karen was invited by Pieter Toerien Productions to tour with The Phantom of the Opera as Dance Captain & Dance Swing in South Africa, China and South Korea in 2004 and 2005.

In 2006 Karen opened a private dance Academy in Table View and also performed in the Cape Town Opera’s The Showboat in Nürnburg, Germany. She completed a Pilates Instructor’s course through Healthy Living Pilates.

In 2007 performed in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers at Artscape Opera House as well as one performance at the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton, United Kingdom.

Karen obtained Fellowship status in the Cecchetti Branch of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in 2021.

Johan Jooste was born in Pinetown, South Africa and matriculated at De Kuilen High School in Kuilsriver, Cape Town.  He received a diploma in the teaching of classical ballet from the University of Cape Town Ballet School (now the UCT School of Dance) under the directorship of Professor David Poole in 1984. 

In 1985, he joined the CAPAB Ballet Company (now Cape Town City Ballet) and progressed through the ranks to become senior principal dancer, performing all the leading roles from the repertoire including works such as Carmen and Hamlet which were written on him by choreographer, Veronica Paeper.  In 1994, Johan danced the role of Hamlet before the Duchess of Kent at the Sadlers Wells Theatre, London.

Johan received the Balletomanes Award for the first time in 1986, and the Nederburg Special Prize in 1987 as well as the Nederburg Award in 1989, and a joint Nederburg Award with Carol Kinsey, in recognition of their partnership, in 1993.  In 1994, he received the Potentia Award from De Kuilen High School for meritorious service by a past pupil. 

Johan was invited to join The Phantom of the Opera in 2004 for the South African and Asian tour which toured to China and South Korea.  In 2006 Johan travelled with the Cape Town Opera Company to Nürnberg, Germany to perform in their production of Showboat. 

Johan currently guest teaches and has been invited by the Royal Academy of Dance, the Cape Town City Ballet and the Cecchetti Society to judge at various events.