iKapa’s Training and Outreach programme offers classes in ballet, contemporary and African dance at centres in the township communities of Cape Town. The classes are held Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Philippi and New Crossroads, and are currently providing almost 300 students with the opportunity to dance and learn new skills they would otherwise not have the means to participate in.

Students in these centres attend dance class three times a week after school and are taught by professional dancers and teachers, many of whom were trained in organisations such as iKapa and who are now giving back to their local communities by passing on their knowledge and skills to the next generation.

While many of the students participate in dance for recreation and fun, some students are more serious about their training and, those who show both talent and dedication, are invited to attend intensive training leading to iKapa’s Youth Company, Apprentice and Internship programmes. These pathways offer students real professional preparation and enables them to be able to dance professionally either in the iKapa Dance Theatre company, or with other artistic companies across the globe.

The iKapa Dance Theatre Training and Outreach students participate in a number of performances throughout the year, culminating in an Annual Showcase hosted by iKapa Dance Theatre at the end of each year.  Friends of iKapa and other local dance institutions are invited to celebrate the learners’ achievements, and it is a great opportunity for them to show their parents and families what they have learned throughout the year.