Aired July 22nd on Inspiring South Africans with Heather de Wit and her guest Philip Boyd who was born in Cape Town and educated in Johannesburg at the National School of the Arts.
He trained at the UCT Ballet School from 1974 – 1976. After completing his 2 year National Service, he joined CAPAB Ballet Company in 1979.
He became a Principal dancer in 1980 in his debut performance of ‘Albrecht’ in the ballet ‘Giselle’ dancing opposite Nicolette Loxton. Boyd danced all the major principal roles with CAPAB Ballet for 23 years during his career with the company.
In 1991 Boyd decided to pass on his knowledge and experience he had gained from his professional career to underprivileged children through developing an Outreach Programme called Ballet for All.
This changed its name to Dance for All in 1995 incorporating all other forms of dance, including African Dance, Contemporary Dance and Classical Ballet and Spanish Dance. This work expanded to the areas of Langa, Nyanga and Khayelitsha.
In 2002 Boyd ended his association with what they had become known as Cape Town City Ballet and officially became the Artistic Director of Dance for All and in 2008 was appointed as Chief Executive Officer.
Through his positive leadership and energy in promoting dance in the Western Cape, Boyd has taken the organisation to new heights and through his vision and mission, the demographics of SA dance companies have been transformed, as students who have been trained by Dance for All, are now working as professional dancers both locally and abroad.
Dance for All’s Outreach Programmes have also expanded in the Western Cape Rural Areas of Montagu and Barrydale.
Through spearheading cultural development in these and other disadvantages areas Dance for All has become a role model for other such initiatives and they currently have over 1500 children in their Outreach programmes.
In 2010 Boyd launched the Dance for All InSPIRAtions Youth Company in memory of Prima Ballerina Assoluta, Phyllis Spira (OMSG) who Boyd was married to.
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