Cape Ballet Centre

Cape Ballet Centre offers ballet classes for adults and children in Gardens, Cape Town. Under the direction of Evelyne Aregger Esterhuyse, the studio teaches using both RAD and Vaganova methods, with non-syllabus classes also available. The programme caters to all ages and abilities, from beginner to advanced, in a supportive environment where dancers learn and develop at their own pace.

The Adults' Programme is designed to accommodate all students, from those who have never had formal ballet training to those who have studied ballet in the past and wish to resume training. Children's ballet classes are available for ages 6 and up, and the studio also provides tuition through affiliated schools including Reddam House ASB and St. George's Grammar School.

Evelyne Aregger Esterhuyse founded Cape Ballet Centre as one of the first ballet schools in South Africa to offer ballet classes to both children and adults. Originally from Lucerne, Switzerland, she moved to Cape Town in 2005 and has been teaching dance for nearly 30 years. She holds a Professional Dance Teaching Diploma from the Royal Academy of Dance, is certified in the Russian Vaganova Method through the Borrmann Ballettpädagogenverband, Germany, and completed the Cuban Ballet Methodology through the Alicia Alonso University Institute of Dance, Madrid in 2022.

The teaching team includes Lindy Raizenberg, who taught and lectured at the UCT School of Dance and was a member of CAPAB Ballet Company (now Cape Town City Ballet), where she continues to teach; Rayanah Rezant, an American Academy of Ballet Certified Teacher and Cuban Methodology Certified Teacher who joined as a student in 2011 and was officially employed in 2017; Gill Upsher, an ISTD Teacher Associate in Ballet, Modern & Tap with over 19 years of teaching and performance experience including work with the Bovim Ballet Company; and Caroline Tyrrell, a Cecchetti Society of Southern Africa Teacher Associate who joined the team in 2025. The studio also employs Gavrin Mahaffey as pianist, who has extensive experience playing for Cape Town City Ballet and as an RAD and Cecchetti exam pianist.

The professional studio is fully equipped with sprung floors, mirrors, changing rooms, a shower and an additional warm-up studio. Classes focus on detailed technique balanced with a sense of fun, lyricism and joy in dance.

You can book adult classes online or register children for classes through the website. The studio is located at the corner of Hof Street and Orange Street in Gardens, just next door to the Mount Nelson Hotel. Classes are taught by qualified, experienced instructors in a supportive environment with professional facilities including sprung floors and mirrors.

Evelyne Aregger Esterhuyse is the founder and director, certified in RAD, Vaganova and Cuban methods. The team also includes Lindy Raizenberg from UCT School of Dance and Cape Town City Ballet, Rayanah Rezant (American Academy of Ballet certified), Gill Upsher (ISTD qualified with 19 years' experience), and Caroline Tyrrell (Cecchetti qualified). Pianist Gavrin Mahaffey has years of experience with Cape Town City Ballet and exam accompaniment.

The Adults' Programme is designed for all students, including those who have never had formal ballet training.