about us
our ballet studio
Inspire Ballet Academy provides excellent, high-quality ballet training to students of all ages and skill levels. Ballet classes are offered from age 3, through to Grades and Major levels, as well as adult classes.
The fully qualified and experienced teachers give their best to each and every dancer and are dedicated to helping each student achieve their goals and reach their full potential. Inspire Ballet Academy maintains a high standard of ballet while showing kindness and support to all dancers.
Dancers are encouraged to participate in ballet exams with the Cecchetti Society of Southern Africa. Ballet classes thoroughly prepare dancers for examinations which offer dancers an opportunity to be recognized for their achievements and awarded feedback to further improve their training.
Dancers also have the opportunity to perform in studio productions. This enables them to showcase their skills, dance on a stage to a real audience, learn how to perform, and gain valuable stage experience, including how to conduct themselves professionally.
Inspire Ballet Academy is a home-based studio. This offers a safer, more personal environment and keeps fees as affordable as possible. Additional facilities: A private studio bathroom/change room. Secure parking is also available for adult dancers.
Located next to Glenhazel and Lyndhurst, ballet classes are available in a central location and in close proximity to Linksfield, Senderwood, Greenstone, Dowerglen, Edenvale, Rembrandt Park, Bramley View, Savoy Estate, Waverley, Norwood, Sydenham, & Sandringham.
OWNER & TEACHER: AVIVA TUCH
Aviva is a qualified ballet teacher with the Cecchetti Society of Southern Africa, internationally recognized and accredited. All students she has entered for examinations have achieved excellent results. She is a kind and passionate teacher who loves educating and inspiring dancers to reach their full potential. She strongly believes in nurturing young dancers from the start with solid technique and real enjoyment for ballet as an art form.
Aviva was trained as a dancer by Sue le Cordeur, a kind and nurturing teacher who inspired dancers to strive for excellent technique and to develop their passion and artistry. Aviva's teaching style and love for ballet are in part due to Sue's caring and sensitive teaching and extensive knowledge of the Cecchetti Method.
Another key part of Aviva's training and love for ballet is the JYB. Aviva performed with the Johannesburg Youth Ballet for several years, working with choreographers and teachers including Mark Hawkins and Kate Retief, who both made a lasting impact on her. Aviva was also introduced to other methods of ballet with the JYB, making her a more experienced and educated dancer and teacher. She performed in professional productions with the JYB in both corps de ballet and principal roles and toured with the company. Aviva also attended a summer school with Los Angeles Ballet.
In addition to being a ballet teacher, Aviva is also a qualified personal trainer. This gives her an even deeper understanding of the body and its movements and equips her with knowledge to better identify faults and correct them early to avoid injury. Her approach to teaching ballet therefore promotes and prioritizes excellent technique (with understanding) empowering dancers to dance from their heart without injuries.
Aviva qualified as a ballet teacher under the expert guidance of Anneliese Venter whose immeasurable knowledge and attention to detail have also shaped Aviva's approach to teaching. Aviva still dances and enjoys continuing to learn both as a dancer and a teacher.
the cecchetti method
Inspire Ballet Academy is proud to teach ballet classes in the Cecchetti Method - an incredible, successful, and safe training method offering all the essential foundations, and building up all the way to the advanced and pre-professional levels.
The Cecchetti Method is an Italian method of ballet training developed by Maestro Enrico Cecchetti in the early 20th century. Cecchetti was well-known as a brilliant virtuoso dancer and an expert mime and went on to develop his own method of teaching, becoming known as the greatest teacher of his time. He made an enormous contribution to classical ballet technique which we still see today as some of the best dancers worldwide have been trained in the Cecchetti Method.
The Cecchetti method was designed by taking into account the laws of anatomy and the body's abilities and limitations. This means that all technique is based on correct placement of the body in a safe and secure manner. There are two essential ingredients in the Cecchetti Method: technique and artistry. These are the basis of any good dancer. Without technique, any performance will be lacking; and without artistry we become stiff and mechanical. Musicality goes hand in hand with artistry (we dance to music) - so any Cecchetti trained dancer will be technically strong while also displaying sensitivity and musicality in all movements. By focusing on both of these elements (technique and artistry), the Cecchetti Method continues to produce exceptional dancers who are strong, versatile, and have a true love for ballet.
Another critical aspect of Cecchetti's method is that it covers EVERYTHING. It is a balanced method ensuring that every movement and step required by a dancer has been taught. It is very thorough, which also makes it so enjoyable. Each level is carefully structured to build the proper foundations essential to continued progress through each further level.