The Eoan Group School of Performing Arts and Academic Centre is reaching out to the public for assistance in getting two of its students, who were accepted for a five-week programme, to The Ailey School in New York – the official school of the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.
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The two sisters, Jadyn (19) and Luca (15) Oks, aced their audition video to secure their spots for The Ailey School’s five-week Summer Intensive Programme, which starts in June.
According to the Eoan Group, this is an esteemed accomplishment for the two dancers, who have been training at the Eoan Group for over ten years, as well as for the organisation, which has reached its 90th anniversary year.
The Oks siblings are currently studying for the Royal Academy of Dance Advance 2 Level and are senior dancers in the Eoan Pre-Professional Trainee Programme.

The group’s dance director, Abeedah Medell, told Southern Suburbs Tatler she had been driven to tears of joy when she heard that both sisters had been accepted into the programme.
‘When we started this year, I asked our dancers to do research on which international dance schools or academies they would like to attend. The Alvin Ailey school was among those Jadyn and Luca chose,’ said Medell.
‘They had to do a video audition to show their modern dance and ballet skills. It makes me so happy to know that they will make the Eoan Group so proud.’
Jadyn has also been selected to attend The Ailey School’s one-year Independent Study Programme, commencing in September 2024.
The girls, however, will need to raise their own funds to cover flight tickets, visa costs, accommodation, registration and tuition fees if they want to join the dance programme. The year-long Independent Study Programme will also need to be self-funded.
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Jadyn told the publication that she had always loved dance ‘but didn’t know enough about it’.
‘As my knowledge grew, I have seen a different part of it, and I want to be part of the industry now,’ added Jadyn. ‘I see myself making a career out of dance.’
Luca said she ‘just wanted to learn ballet’.
‘I watched my sister dance, and our mom would take us to shows and it was by observing them that I was inspired. I wanted to achieve and I wanted to do better.’

In the hopes of helping Jadyn and Luca reap the benefits of their dedication, hard work and perseverance in refining their passion and discipline through the art of ballet and contemporary dance, the Eoan Group launched a Back-a-Buddy campaign with the goal of raising R250 000.
‘Due to financial and time constraints, the Eoan Group appeals to the global community to kindly assist the family with raising the necessary funds to send their daughters on this amazing opportunity which will elevate their dance career and create a future footprint for others and establish collaboration between other arts organisations,’ the group’s campaign statement read.
If you would like to assist Jadyn and Luca in any way (no matter how small), you can donate to their Back-a-Buddy campaign here or contact the Eoan Group at 021 637 1268.
‘Let’s make the impossible possible for youth in the arts,’ the group urged.
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Picture: Eoan Group / Facebook