A young ballet dancer from Hout Bay made her school proud after she was crowned as the top dance studies candidate in the Cape metro.

Juliette de Villiers, 18, matriculated from Camps Bay High School last year.

The school was also recognised as one of the top-performing schools at the Cape Metro National Senior Certificate Awards Ceremony on Tuesday February 11, according to school spokesperson Carol van der Spuy.

Juliette is one of four siblings and recalls her love for dancing blossoming from an early age.

“I’ve loved dancing for as long as I can remember. Whenever I was watching or listening to the music I found my self wanting to join in.

“My dad did ballet for a bit, but that was only to help with his rugby. My great aunt, Michelle, had a talent for dance, and once I saw a photo of her, I realised I looked a lot like her and became more comfortable in my own skin especially during ballet,“ she said.

Apart from ballet, she’s also dabbled in contemporary and African dance.

“I started practising ballet when I was three years old with my dance coaches, Natalie Lissack and later with Liesl Gruneberg.

“I’ve been in a few solo ballet Eisteddfods when I was younger and got a couple gold diplomas as well as one group contemporary dance Eisteddfods where we received merits.”

Once she entered high school, she intensified her practice routine.

“In high school I danced every day, including some weekends and when I was at home I would stretch once I was warm to keep up with my flexibility even during holidays.

“When an important event came up, I would practise for longer hours but always listened to my body to ensure I was never injured, and even while sick, I tried to show up and watch others dance to ensure I wasn’t falling behind.“

School principal Louis Mostert said he was proud of Juliette and the school’s accomplishments, saying, “Achieving a 100% pass rate and being recognised for consistency in mathematics and science reflects our focus on excellence.

“Juliette’s achievements in dance studies highlight the diverse talents of our learners. These awards motivate us to keep fostering a culture of hard work and creativity.”

Juliette is taking a gap year while figuring out what career she wants to pursue.

“My advice for aspiring dancers would be that it’s never too late to start and don’t be afraid to follow your passions and heart,” she said.

Some of Camps Bay High School’s staff with the certificate they received during the Cape Metro National Senior Certificate Awards Ceremony held at the school on Tuesday February 11. They are Mercia van der Byl (head of maths), Louis Mostert (principal), Tine Boot (maths teacher), Shani McIntyre (maths teacher), Paul Thamahane (physical sciences teacher) and Danelle Ackerman (teacher).

Juliette De Villiers performs an ensemble piece during the annual Camps Bay High School Dance Showcase in May last year.