SA dancer to perform with Introdans

Laura Cameron

Circumstances have caused her to miss out on two previous SA tours during her six-year career abroad. Cameron says she's excited and nervous about performing for people who know her. “Some people are flying up from Johannesburg especially to see me dance,” she said.

Four great choreographers

Introdans, directed by Roel Voorinholt, will present SP!R!T, featuring work by four great choreographers from four different continents. These include Psalm by José Limón, the American master choreographer and one of the founding fathers of modern dance, and Bardoby by Japanese choreographer Toru Shimazaki, which is a ballet about life after death. South African choreographer Vincent Mantsoe has created a world première for Introdans with the powerful and youthful solo Lefa and Nacho Duato's Rassemblement (meaning ‘the bringing together of') is about slavery and passion.

Cameron says her favourite piece is “definitely‘Bardo”. “I love the raw energy and earthiness of the movement and although it can be quite tiring, the music and the group energy spur you on throughout,” she said. “The movement feels natural to me and I love the costumes and lighting. The process of learning the piece with Shimazaki and his assistant, Cheryl Mann, was one of the best experiences of my career.”

Born and raised in Johannesburg

Cameron was born and raised in Johannesburg and moved to Cape Town after matric. Until then, dancing was an after-school hobby. She planned to study occupational therapy at university, but changed her mind and decided “to try dancing as a career before it was too late”. She enrolled for a Bachelor of Music in Dance at the University of Cape Town, but, soon after, joined Cape Town City Ballet.

Introdans is one of the top-three dance companies in The Netherlands, presenting high-quality modern-ballet performances themed around old masters, contemporary partners and new talent. It was founded by Hans Focking and Ton Wiggers and its patron is HRH Princess Margriet of The Netherlands.
Introdans' impressive repertoire features work by Hans van Manen; William Forsythe; Jirí Kylián; Paul Lightfoot and his Spanish partner, Sol León; Mats Ek and Inbal Pinto among others. Cameron has been able to perform many of them during three years, each with the Introdans Ensemble and the main company. She also performed pieces by Adele Blank, Christopher Kindo and Veronica Paeper during her five-year stint with Cape Town City Ballet.

“As Introdans is a repertoire company, I have been very fortunate to work with some amazing choreographers and I have also had the opportunity to tour all over the world,” said Cameron. She added that it will be interesting to perform at the Baxter Theatre again as she was a very young student the last time she danced there.

Beautiful Cape Town

“I can't wait to see my family and best girlfriends. I hope I will have time to take a drive out to Cape Point and go for a hike in the mountains with my parents. I miss the outdoor lifestyle of South Africa; Cape Town is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world.”

In her spare time, Cameron indulges her passion for music by going to concerts or live music events. “I like to read and draw or paint, I am thoroughly enjoying my new salsa course, I love cooking and, of course, spending time with friends, preferably out on the dance floor,” she said.

SP!R!T runs at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town from 28 April to 1 May. Tickets are R75 to R120 via Computicket or 083 915 8000 and special offers are available for schools via .