Meet Cadee van Aswegen – a ballerina with big dreams
Today, for Woman Crush Wednesday, we're celebrating a young and talented ballerina with a spirit and love for dance.
Talent comes in all forms, and dreams never come with a rulebook. Pursuing your passions fearlessly is important because when people chase their dreams, the world becomes a more inspired place.
This week, Carol Ofori and the team are celebrating a remarkable young woman who has called Durban home for the past 12 years.
Cadee van Aswegen discovered her love for dance at just four years old, and by six, she had already joined the Break-Thru Dance Academy & Co.
Break-Thru Dance Academy & Co. is a South African-based institution dedicated to ballet, modern and contemporary dance, tap, and hip-hop.
In 2022, Van Aswegen switched to homeschooling to dedicate more time to her dance training while maintaining a strong academic foundation.
Her impressive list of accolades speaks volumes about her talent and passion for dance. She has claimed multiple titles and awards at local competitions such as the KZN Festival, DOTY, and MOVE, as well as international stages like the South African International Ballet Competition, where she placed third place in the senior classical repertoire category.
She also earned a 50% scholarship to the Brussels International Ballet School.
Along with the scholarship, Van Aswegen received free entry to the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) for both classical and contemporary dance in any location.
"I have also placed in the top six contemporary sections for YAGP virtual in both the junior and senior sections during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. I recently competed at YGP Barcelona, where I received summer school acceptances to schools in the USA and Europe.
"In April 2024, I was honoured to be invited to dance in the YAGP 25th Anniversary Gala with the International Contemporary Ensemble with one of the best contemporary choreographers, Shahar Binyamin, an incredible opportunity that marks a milestone in my journey," she said.
Ballet has always been my passion, and I strive to refine my technique and artistry with every performance. Throughout my journey, I have had incredible support from the amazing team of teachers at Break-thru Dance: Taryn Smit, Ms Winsome Fuller, Rachel Abrahams and Gabriel Youngstar. I am so grateful for all the love and support I’ve always received and continue to receive from my incredible teachers. My parents and family have been my number one fans and biggest support throughout and I feel so blessed that they are on this journey with me.
Opportunities are endless for Van Aswegen, but like any dream, they come with financial challenges. To achieve her goal of being scouted by top international schools and dance companies, she needs help.
Her parents have launched a BackaBuddy campaign to raise funds for her journey. If you'd like to contribute and help her take advantage of some of these great scholarship opportunities, you can visit her BackaBuddy page.
You can follow Van Aswegen's journey on TikTok and Instagram.
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