Russian Youth Ballet. A Grade 11 student from Crawford International Sandton College, Maxine Cooke, has been dancing since she was five years old. She continues to dance at her studio in Bryanston, but she recently auditioned to join the Russian Youth Ballet Company. The good news is that Maxine was accepted into the company, as a soloist. She will perform several dances in four shows of the well-known Ballet, Coppelia, at the Roodepoort Theatre on 15 and 16 June 2024.

Maxine shares a few words of gratitude: “I would like to thank my teachers at Dancers Studio who include among others – Joanne Bobrow, Tracey McNiven, Celeste Greeff and Rene Callis, Their dedication and passion for teaching has over the years instilled the love of ballet in me. Liane Lurie-Raistrick, Head of the Dance Department at Crawford College Sandton, has been such an inspiration since joining the school.

A huge thank you to my family and friends, for the constant support and encouragement.” Maxine is extremely grateful to the Russian Youth Ballet Company for the opportunity which allows her to represent both her ballet studio and her school.