Claire obtained a degree in Speech and Drama, majoring in movement studies, from the University of KZN and has 30 years of dance, theatre and choreographic experience, ranging from musicals to corporate and industrial theatre. Claire also has a PGCE or Postgraduate Certificate in Education obtained through UNISA.
Trained in classical ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, tap and Zulu traditional dance, she moved into a professional dance career at the age of 17 and this career spanned 18 years.
Claire worked with Jazzart and The North West Arts Council Dance Company and her freelance career took her to more than 15 different countries around the world where she performed in international festivals and on cruise lines as well as locally in various musicals and revues.
Claire choreographed and coached young adults in drama and performance technique at Matric level. She has also choreographed many professional shows and launches for brands for her own promotional Events and Entertainment Company, The Workzone.
Some musical theatre choreography credits include FANGS, for Tim Plewman and Bill Flynn, Laaities and Ladies for Steve Hofmeyr and the Hannah and Miley Show for Showtime Australia. Claire choreographed the 2010 pantomime Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates, and Michael Jackson History - This Is It - at The Joburg Theatre.
Claire has been managing co-curricular ballet, modern and drama at St Mary’s for 10 years and is enjoying nurturing the talent and enthusiasm that the girls have for these art forms.
Jo-Anne Wyngaard is a Cape Town native and started her ballet training at the Cape Flats Distress Association (CAFDA) at age 6, and at the insistence of her Sub A teacher, Mrs. Pillay.
She danced at CAFDA under the instruction of Francis Harrison, Wendy Abrahams and Anita Van der Merwe. She also participated in both Ballet and Modern Dance with Stephanie Rutherford and later Trish Notcutt. She did a series of workshops, dancing with Diane Fincham and Debbie Turner.
She later taught Modern Dance at the EOAN Group with Abeedah Medell and Henry Paulse and then worked for AfroArimba as a production assistant, where all shows where performed on the Costa Cruise ships.
During her recovery from breast cancer in 2014, she started working for Joburg Ballet as a teacher in the Satellite Schools. She qualified as a Cecchetti Associate teacher at the age of 49 and in 2019 she was appointed Co-ordinator of the Joburg Ballet School.
Jo joined 5678 Productions in 2024 and is thrilled to be part of the team and nurturing the ballet students at St Mary’s School.
BA (Live Performance)
AFDA (School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) 2015 -2017
ACTING RELATED EXPERIENCE
Pula (Theatre) 2018 - Actor
Eulogy (Theatre) 2018 - Actor
24 Hours in the City 2018 (Theatre) – Actor
You Got Got (TV skit) 2018 - Actor
24 Hours in the City 2019 (Theatre) – Actor
TOMZ TV Presenter – SABC 1 (2021)
Keabetswe Sesing studied Performing Arts and Training course (NQL4) at Moving Into Dance Mophatong and, following this, joined St Mary's School in Wavelrey as a rythmic gymnastics coach.
Kea is a qualified judge with the South African Gymnastics Federation. She later continued her dance teacher training under the DMC (Dance Mouse Company) in 2022 where she is currently doing her IDTA ballet teachers diploma.
Meegan studied at the Waterfront Theatre School in Cape Town and although she has had professional dance experience in many forms of dance including modern, showdance, tap, Latin American and Ballroom, Meegan has a passion for hip hop, jazz and tap.
Her love of dance comes from the many different teachers she has had the privilege of learning from.
Meegan teaches for a few franchises of Dance Mouse Company and is also the proud owner of her own franchise in Soweto and Lenasia.
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE: “Do it big, do it right, and do it with style.” — Fred Astaire
Rudi Ward is a dancer & choreographer from Cape Town, South Africa but has travelled , performed, competed, choreographed and trained in 13 countries.
He has choreographed various performances and commercials for brands such as Huawei & Coca Cola as well as artists such as Jimmy Nevis and Dope Saint Jude.
In the competition industry Rudi has won many titles in different countries and in various categories within the Hip-Hop dance genre.
He has also won best choreography awards both locally and internationally.
Daniel has been dancing professionally for over 14 years. He is a not only a dancer but also a teacher and choreographer.
His main styles include hip hop, popping, locking, dancehall, afrostyles and amapiano.
Daniel has choreographed solos, duos and Crews that competed locally and overseas at competitions like SABOD, Dance Star and Dance World Cup and is a world champion soloist and crew member. Daniel has performed in many music videos and tv shows and most recently has been on tour with Tyla as one of her dancers.
Talia Kodesh studied Musical Theatre at the Tshwane University of Technology.
Talia has been starring in musicals since 2002, some of her stage accolades include: Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web, which won a Naledi Award, Louisa von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Jemima in a touring production of Cats, Ozzie Osborn and Scaramouche in We Will Rock You, which also toured New Zealand. Mimi Marquez in Rent, Liz and Roxie in Chicago, Belle in Beauty and The Beast, for which she was nominated for a Naledi for Best Actress in a Musical, Gabriella Montez in a Touring Production of Disney’s High School Musical, and Cathy in The Last Five Years (which she also co-produced).
Talia is currently teaching contemporary dance at Jozi Dance Studios (www.jozidancestudios.com) and contemporary at 5678 Productions (5678productions.co.za). She also offers private coaching, workshops and mentorship programmes in dance and drama, while still pursuing her career in performance.
She is proud to have an active role in the South African Performing Arts Industry
