Anton van Niekerk (1953-) philosopher, academic and amateur actor

Biography

Born Anton Albert van Niekerk in Brits in the Transvaal, South Africa on 4 December 1953, he matriculated from the Paul Roos Gymnasium School in Stellenbosch in 1971,then completed a BA degree (1974), BA Honours in philosophy (1976), MA in philosophy (1980), BTh (1978) and a licentiate in theology (1979), all cum laude, from Stellenbosch University. He obtained his DPhil in 1983.

He became a lecturer and highly regarded researcher in the Department of Philosophy at Stellenbosch and the founding and director of the Centre for Applied Ethics there.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

As a student he became involved in amateur theatricals for one year (1976), appearing in three productions:

Die huweliksaansoek (an Afrikaans version of Chekhov's The Proposal, directed by Leona Riche, and done as part of the one-act play competition of the University). He played the father.

Lokval vir 'n Eensame Man (an Afrikaans version of Robert Thomas's Trap for a Single Man) directed by Marie van Heerden for the Libertas Teaterklub (he played "Die Kommisaris").

They Never Noticed a Thing, a local play written by Steve Curtis and directed by Sue Curtis, also performed at the Libertas Theatre. He played "Joe" (described as "the most patriotic man in Stellenbosch").

Sources

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Anton van Niekerk () ballet dancer and performer

Biography

Training

Quoted from the programme of Snake Beneath the Rose of 1986: 'Anton started ballet training in Pietersburg and matriculated with higher grade music in 1980. He then studied for a year at the UCT Ballet School with Dudley Tomlinson and Mignon Furman and the for 3 years at the Pretoria Technikon with Susan Oosthuizen - Botha Yeatman and Ken Yeatman. He completed the National Diploma in Ballet as well as RAD examinations to SOLO SEAL'.

Career

Quoted from the programme of Snake Beneath the Rose in 1986: 'One of his most critically acclaimed performances during this time was as the Blackamoor in the student production of Petrushka. In January 1985 he was called up for National Service, but also managed to fit in a short spell with the PACT Ballet Company.

Anton, who is at home in both classical and contemporary styles, has also danced for Esther Nasser's Movement Inc..