Press: Annual Dancers Love Dogs for Artscape on 1 November

Dancers Love Dogs takes place at the Artscape Opera House on 1 November 2017 in aid of the mass sterilisation of animals in crisis. This year, the hilarious comedian Alan Committie will once again open the show.

Dancers Love Dogs (DLD) is an annual highlight on the Western Cape’s dance calendar that showcases a vibrant mix of ballet, hip-hop, Irish, tap and modern dance. Companies, choreographers and artists, all of whom volunteer their time and expertise, include Laura Bosenberg from Cape Town City Ballet who is the DLD Honorary Ambassador, Adele Blank, Rudi Smit, Unmute, Indoni Dance, the Arts & Leadership Academy, Ashley and Bradley Searle from Follow Spot Productions, Elzanne Crause and Louisa Talbot, amongst many others.

Four years ago an emaciated puppy was found running frantically along the N2 highway. Well known dance teacher Brigitte Reeve Taylor spotted it, gave chase and after a traumatic few hours adopted it. Today Miles is part of her family and the four pawed ambassador for DLD. During her search for the animal, a stray, she saw many other homeless dogs in need of veterinary attention and was inspired to create an event to help them called it Dancers Love Dogs and the rest is history. DLD supports the sterilisation of unwanted animals and helps stem the flow of unwanted puppies and kittens. What began as a once-off show has grown into a hugely popular annual event that has raised more than R1,7 million over 5 years. The money raised supports various organisations and incredible teams of dedicated vets who have neutered more than 9000 dogs since DLD’s inception, as well as cats, bunnies, pigs and donkeys.

While some people think with their head, as a dance teacher and choreographer, who has trained and choreographed aspiring dancers for over 35 years, DLD’S artistic director Brigitte Reeve-Taylor thinks with her feet. She was recently the recipient of Glamour Magazine’s Philanthropy Award for her tireless work through Dancers Love Dogs and other related projects.

As a voluntary group with limited resources, Dancers Love Dogs relies heavily on one night a year to raise funds that are so desperately needed by so many.

The price of a single ticket costs R300 which covers one sterilization. Dancers Love Dogs 2017 takes place at Artscape Opera House on Wednesday 1st November at 7:30pm. Bookings are through Computicket and 0214217695.