By Michelle Strydom
“It's more administrative than some of my previous career roles in the arts, which means I need to engage more in terms of the company's vision and provide clear leadership and strategic thinking around key issues such as transformation and funding,” says Nasser, who officially took on her new role on Monday, 1 August.
When she started out, Nasser was most interested in what dance represents, and what the art of ballet meant to her. “Choreography has always been really attractive for me as an artistic outlet - a space where you can bring your imagination to life, while ballet is the ultimate example of beauty in motion.”
Her career has been a whirlwind of memorable moments, from being appointed as artistic director of PACT Contemporary Dance Company, to heading the State Theatre Dance Company and even being a judge on the freestyle dance show, Dans Dans Dans. Her love for the industry and the talent she gets to work with every day has instilled a keen interest in developing South African talent.
“The most rewarding aspect of my career so far has, undoubtedly, been working with some of the most dedicated and talented people in the industry, both locally and globally. South Africa produces some wonderful, gifted dancers, but we need to ensure we can provide the right professional environment and resources, so they are not lured away overseas.”
Joburg Ballet, established in 2012, consists of permanent and ad-hoc dancers, and has included the works of names like Petipa, Ivanov, Bovim, Maqoma, Paeper, Balanchine, Saint-Léon, Wubbe and others. Although the company has been deemed as the country’s largest and most prestigious professional ballet company, Nasser aims to expand the company to even greater things.
“I want to work towards a future in which Joburg Ballet is truly a destination point for everyone living in Johannesburg – a ‘must see’ arts organisation. Although the company is well known and admired by all dancers and dance lovers in Gauteng, it still remains an undiscovered treasure in the heart of Braamfontein. I want to broaden accessibility and expand the company’s repertoire so that everyone in the city of Johannesburg really feels as though the company belongs to them,” she says.
The road to success wasn’t all too smooth. Nasser admits to facing some challenges along the way, especially the challenge of remaining passionate about a life-long relationship with dance. Fortunately, her new role has reignited the love she has for the profession.
“We can all become worn out to some extent by the more mundane, day-to-day aspects of our work. Luckily, now I can just sit for a while in the rehearsal studios and see the skill, passion, and commitment these full-time classical dancers bring to their work every day, and I feel invigorated again.”
With renewing classics and possibly collaborating with other local dance companies, Nasser’s career shows no signs of stopping; instead rather opening new chapters that promise an even longer flourishing relationship.
“I've always felt blessed by the universe and I'm really looking forward to the challenges and the opportunities that this new stage will bring.”