Augustus Van Heerden

AUGUSTUS VAN HEERDEN

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa

Trained as a dancer in Johannesburg and at the University of Cape Town. First professional experience was at The Wisconsin Ballet company under the direction of Tibor Zana. After a year, was invited by E. Virginia Williams to join the Boston Ballet Company. While at Boston Ballet Mr. Van Heerden was invited by the Scottish Ballet to partner Dame Margot Fonteyn on a tour of Scotland. In 1983, he joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company. Soon after Arthur Mitchell augmented his duties by making him Ballet Master to the company. He also worked as an assistant to Glen Tetley. He has worked with many companies around the world including Het National Ballet in Amsterdam, National Ballet of Canada, English National Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Deutsche Opera Berlin and Norwegian National Ballet. Mr. Van Heerden is now Upper/Lower School Director at Dance Theatre of Harlem.