Les Ballet Africains have been recognized and encourage in their role of roving ambassadors, carrying the pride and aspirations of their people. The company’s ultimate mission is to create understanding of Africa with a view to creating favorable conditions for cooperation between Africa and the rest of the world. Whether in Sydney, Rio, Berlin, Tokyo, Moscow or Los Angeles, their performance receives a tumultuous acclaim, together with an invitation to return.

DULCIE HOWES

Dulcie Howes, born in the year of 1908, was a ballet dancer from South Africa. She was the prima ballerina assoluta, in her time, of South African ballet, and born in Mossel Bay, near Cape Town.

Howes’ father was Justice Reed Howes. Justice immigrated to South Africa at the end of the South African War. Dulcie Howes’ mother was Muriel Alice Lind. Justice was the headmaster of Oudtshoorn Boys High School but once he got married, he moved to Cape Town and practiced as an advocate.

Dulcie was one of the first pupils of Herschel Girls School, which opened in 1922. She left South Africa and trained in London, studying the Cechetti method with Margaret Craske, in addition to mime with Tamara Karsavina, and Spanish dancing with Elsa Brunelleschi; she joined Anna Pavlova’s dancing company, touring across Europe in 1927.