ZAMA DANCE SCHOOL CAPE TOWN
Inspiration, Dedication and Commitment
Zama Dance School Trust is an award-winning dance studio located in the heart of Gugulethu, Cape Town.
From a small dream in 1984, the school grew until by 1989 it had become an established Trust and registered NPO. Today, Zama caters for up to 100 students annually from 6 to 17 years old. Open six days a week, students enjoy the expertise of both local and international teachers.
Zama students and graduates have proven themselves, both on the local and international stage, however, Zama is so much more than a dance studio. For many, it is a second home and safe space where dance is used as a vehicle for self-discovery and personal growth. A belief in one’s ability to succeed plays a major part in making life choices. With dance, learners discover that self-discipline, focus, and commitment are the steps to success.
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children” – Nelson Mandela
Students spend a considerable amount of their time at Zama. They attend classes three times a week, or more when preparing for performances or exams.
Mindful that the school does not exist in a vacuum, learners are provided with nutritious meals through the feeding scheme and are encouraged to use the premises to do homework. In some cases, support extends to medical and dental care.
Launched in 2010, Zama’s feeding scheme ensures that all students receive a nutritious meal after all their classes. Sandwiches with assorted fillings or hot meals are prepared daily on the premises by Nomtha and are accompanied with fruit and juice or milk.
Tuition fees, dancewear and meals are all sponsored by generous organisations and individuals that include the Raymond Ackerman Foundation, the Ackerman Family Foundation, the Western Cape Government, Uthando SA, the National Arts Council, Pick n Pay and the NLC (National Lotteries Commission).
Zama has long-standing relationships with Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB) and the Cape Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA). Zama students visit both CTCB and CAPA to watch rehearsals and attend workshops. The benefit of interacting with positive role models in the professional dance community plays an essential part in the development of Zama’s dancers.