A note from the Director

William Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream has enchanted audiences around the world for more than 420 years. The story of magic and mayhem, donkeys and fairies captivates audiences time and time again. In 1962, George Balanchine opened the New York City Ballet’s season with his interpretation of the story and two years later Sir Fredrick Ashton created his own version on the Royal Ballet in London. This weekend, Dance Centre Kenya will be presenting this incredible story here in Nairobi, but it will not be the Balanchine or Ashton version that we will be presenting. My very acclaimed first ballet teacher Ann Brodie created this work and when she died, she left all of her choreography to her students, including myself. This is the legacy of ballet. It has been handed generation after generation, and now I give it to my students here in Nairobi.

The ballet company dancers who will be performing for you are Dance Centre Kenya’s most dedicated students. In addition to their academic commitments, the junior company members take at least two ballet classes a week and the senior company members take at least two ballet classes and one pointe or pas de deux class, as well as all of them participating in an additional dance form. Most of the dancers spend countless hours past this in the studio every week. We were beyond amazed an impressed that more than 85 children were prepared to make the commitment again this year at company auditions. Ballet has really taken Nairobi by storm.

This production would not have been possible without the creativity and the dedication of Nathalie Fusillo and her team at Palacina Interiors who back in 2019 went above and beyond building a life-sized tree for Puck to climb in, creating designs for every fairy and Amazon costume, and making the most beautiful purple rose petal on which Titania will rest her head. It was an investment of time and love, which is being brought back to the stage four years later to the delight of our dancers and audience members.

Finally, I would like to thank all of the student sponsors who support DCK’s dancers, who without a bit of financial help, would not have the opportunity to perform here tonight. The show would not be the same without them, and the spirit of our dance company would not be the same with out them. You sponsors are truly part of what makes this magic happen.

Enjoy,

Cooper Rust

Artistic Director