Wayne Sleep OBE & Jo De Souza: A Special Collaboration
In the 1990s, Jo De Souza had the incredible opportunity to work closely with renowned dancer Wayne Sleep, who selected her to perform principal roles in several of his classical tours and gala performances. Highlights of this collaboration included “Wayne’s World of Classical Ballet,” “Aspects of Dance,” “Dash to the Coliseum with Wayne Sleep,” and his spectacular 50th birthday gala at Her Majesty’s Theatre, “50 Winks of Wayne Sleep.”
Wayne Sleep is a celebrated figure in the world of dance, having won a scholarship to the Royal Ballet School in 1961 from a pool of 250 applicants. He joined the Royal Ballet Company in 1966, rising to the position of Senior Principal Dancer. In addition to his illustrious dance career, Wayne has also made a name for himself as an actor in musical theatre, film, and television. As a choreographer, he created and directed “DASH,” a groundbreaking production that uniquely incorporated dance genres to include classical, jazz, tap and contemporary. He was awarded an OBE in 1998. Wayne is a patron of numerous charities, including his own, The Wayne Sleep Foundation, which supports students pursuing their artistic passions.
Recently, Wayne released his memoir, “Just Different,” and graciously visited the De Souza Dance Centre on November 11th to sign copies of his book and engage with our parents and students. It was an unforgettable evening filled with stories about his extraordinary dance journey, accompanied by a few impromptu moments of delightful tap, ballet, and singing from Wayne! His charm, humour, and warmth left a lasting impression, and we are truly honoured by his visit.
We are excited to announce that we are in the process of organising workshops for both our adult ballet students and children, and we can’t wait to welcome Wayne back for more inspiring experiences!
