University of Cape Town

The University of Cape Town (UCT) is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Generally referred to by its acronym, UCT.

History

UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa. The language of instruction is English. [1]

UCT and the Performing Arts

UCT has played a significant role in the development of the Arts in South Africa, particularly in the disciplines of Ballet, Drama, Opera and Jazz.

Ballet

Established in 1934 by the late Dr Dulcie Howes, the UCT Ballet School (as it was then known) became the first ballet school in the world to be attached to a university.

It was also at this time that Howes founded the UCT Ballet Company, which consisted of students from the school dancing in the corps de ballet, with staff members and professional dancers performing the leading roles.

For more information, see UCT Ballet School and UCT Ballet Company.

Drama

The University had an amateur dramatic society, known as the UCT Dramatic Society, and later also an academic drama department, known as the University of Cape Town Drama Department, situated on the University's Hiddingh Campus, Orange Street, downtown, next to the Company Gardens. Over the years both organizations used the University's Little Theatre, a purpose-built theatre facility inaugurated in 1931 on the same campus.

For more information, see University of Cape Town Drama Department.

Opera

For more information, see University of Cape Town Opera School.

The Baxter Theatre

Nestled at the foot of the University of Cape Town, the Baxter Theatre Centre, designed by Jack Barnett, opened on 1 August 1977. It came into being as the result of a bequest from the late Dr W. Duncan Baxter who, in his will, bequeathed an amount of money to the University of Cape Town for the purpose of establishing a theatre which would, in the words of Dr Baxter, “develop and cultivate the arts in Cape Town and the adjacent districts”.

The complex continues to provide a stage for all types of professional entertainment – music, drama, ballet, opera and intimate theatre.

For more information, see Baxter Theatre.

Sources

'Seventy years old and still dancing'. UCT News. 29 March 2004.

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