Elizabeth Triegaardt (born 28 September 1946) is a South African ballet dancer, now retired. She is professor emerita of the University of Cape Town School of Dance and an honorary executive director of the Cape Town City Ballet.
Early life, education, and training
Elizabeth Eva Triegaardt was born in Pretoria (now Tshwane), the executive capital of South Africa, located in the northern province of Transvaal (now Gauteng). Her parents were descendants of the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony in the 1830s and 1840s and moved northeastward in the Great Trek to settle lands in the interior of southern Africa. The Boer republic established on the Highveld across the Vaal River was called Transvaal, which became a province of South Africa in 1910.
Elizabeth was raised to be bilingual in Afrikaans and English. In 1950, at age 3½, she began her dance training in a class for toddlers in Pretoria. Later, in nearby Johannesburg, she trained with the leading dance teachers in the city, studying ballet with Ivy Conmee and Marjorie Sturman and Spanish dance with Mercedes Molina. She matriculated at Hyde Park High School in Johannesburg and graduated from the University of Cape Town, with a bachelor of science degree in pure mathematics, in 1966. That same year she was awarded a Solo Seal by examiners from the Royal Academy of Dancing. She was then 20 years old. In addition to her concentration on ballet, she was an active member of the Spanish Dance Society and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (Greek).
Performing career
In 1967, Triegaardt joined CAPAB Ballet, named for the Cape Performing Arts Board and formerly known as the University of Cape Town Ballet. She became a principal dancer and later, in 1971, ballet mistress of the company. With it, she toured extensively to major cities in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia). Among the many roles she performed until her retirement from the stage in 1990 are the following. 1967. Swan Lake, produced by David Poole, music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Role: Odette/Odile, partnered by Eduard Greyling. 1968. La Famille: The Intimate Recollections of an Elderly Aunt, choreography by Dulcie Howes, music by William Walton. Roles: Hortense and Waltz, partnered by Keith Mackintosh. 1968. The Two Pigeons, choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by André Messager. Role: The Young Girl. 1969. La Bayadère, produced by Gary Burne, music by Ludwig Minkus. Role: Nikiya, partnered by Eduard Greyling. 1970. The Sleeping Beauty, produced by David Poole, music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Role: Aurora, partnered by Eduard Greyling. 1971. Transfigured Night, choreography by Frank Staff, music by Arnold Schoenberg. Role: Elder Sister. 1971. Missa Flamenca, choreography by Marina Keet, music by Manuel Lillo Torregrosa. Role: The Gloria. 1972. Giselle, produced by David Poole, music by Adolphe Adam. Role: Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis. 1973. Pictures at an Exhibition, choreography by Audrey King, music by Modest Mussorgsky. Role: Baba Yaga. 1973. John the Baptist, choreography by Veronica Paeper, music by Ernest Bloch. Role: Herodias. 1973. The Rain Queen, conception by Frank Staff, choreography by David Poole, music by Graham Newcater. Role: Princess, partnered by Eduard Greyling and Keith Macintosh. 1974. The Firebird, choreography by David Poole, music by Igor Stravinsky. Role: The Firebird, partnered by Eduard Greyling and Keith Macintosh. 1975. Cinderella, choreography by Veronica Paeper, music by Sergei Prokofiev. Role: Fairy Godmother. 1977. Raymonda, choreography by Alfred Rodrigues, music by Alexander Glazunov. Role: Raymonda, partnered by John Simons. 1979. Concerto for Charlie, choreography by Veronica Paeper, music by Dmitri Shostakovich. Role: Charlie Girl. 1980. Drei Diere (Three Beasts), choreography by Veronica Paeper, music by Peter Klatzow. Role: Sphinx. 1982. Orpheus in the Underworld, choreography by Veronica Paeper, music by Jacques Offenbach. Role: Hera. 1983. Undine, choreography by Veronica Paeper, music by Claude Debussy. Role: Undine. 1984. Spartacus, choreography by Veronica Paeper, music by Aram Khatchaturian. Role: Aegina.