This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
Since its inception five years ago, Dance Centre Kenya (DCK) has been training young Kenyans in the art of dance, with a focus on ballet.
Cooper Rust, the co-founder and artistic director of DCK, has earned a reputation for her dedication to teaching children from all over Nairobi, including those from Kibera, to dance and love ballet.
Many of her students have gone on to higher dance studies overseas, while others have stayed in Kenya to continue learning from her.
Currently, the seniors (aged 15 to 17) are learning how to choreograph, and their work will be showcased in 'The Tales of Mother Goose: A Young Person's Introduction to Ballet', a performance featuring 30 members of DCK's Junior Dance Company.
Featuring a giant shoe as a set design, the show will introduce both young and old to the stories and rhymes of Mother Goose, including famous nursery rhymes such as 'Humpty Dumpty', 'Jack Sprat', and 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'.
"The performance is meant to be a learning experience for everyone," says Cooper, who wants to introduce ballet to both young and old in a charming, interactive way.
The show will be performed on Saturday at 1pm at GEMS Cambridge Auditorium and on Sunday, October 6, at 1pm and 3:30pm at Braeburn Garden Estate.
