On 4 October, Alisa Balayan, owner and principal teacher of Orlovska Dance Studio (ODS), was invited to deliver a guest lecture at the prestigious Redhill School in Johannesburg. Her thought-provoking talk, titled “Dance and Its Importance in the Technological Age,” explored the enduring value of dance in an increasingly digital world.
The lecture was both educational and engaging — sparking curiosity, laughter, and reflection among students and teachers alike. Below is a summary of the key insights from Alisa’s inspiring presentation.
Technology and Its Impact on Humanity
We live in a world where technology advances faster than ever before. While innovation offers incredible opportunities, it also comes with challenges.
Automation, for instance, is making certain professions obsolete — self-driving technology threatens to replace thousands of drivers worldwide. Even more concerning, our increasing dependence on smartphones and digital communication often isolates us, making genuine face-to-face interaction rarer.
In this environment, it’s crucial to preserve and nurture our humanity — to connect, express, and create meaning beyond screens and algorithms. Dance offers one of the most powerful ways to do that.
Why Dance Matters More Than Ever
Dance is one of humanity’s oldest forms of expression. It transcends language, culture, and time — allowing people to communicate emotion, identity, and shared experience through movement.
In ancient and folk traditions, dance strengthened community bonds. Whether it was Italy’s Tarantella, Greece’s Sirtaki, or Ukraine’s Hopak, every culture used dance to celebrate life, harvests, and unity. Through movement, people expressed their struggles, joys, and triumphs — shaping how generations understood the world.
Unlike written records that capture facts, dance captures feelings — helping us experience what it meant to live in a particular time and place.
Ballet: The Foundation of Dance
Ballet remains one of the most essential dance forms. It develops strength, flexibility, coordination, and discipline — forming a strong foundation for other styles such as jazz, modern, contemporary, and ballroom.
Through masterpieces like Swan Lake, Giselle, and The Nutcracker, ballet also serves as a living link to our cultural heritage, allowing audiences to connect with history through art and movement.
Moreover, ballet has long been empowering for both women and men. Historically, it gave women a platform to express strength and independence at a time when few other outlets existed. Today, it also empowers boys and men — helping them build focus, balance, and athleticism. In fact, ballet training has proven beneficial even for professional football players, improving flexibility, speed, endurance, and precision.
In South Africa, programs like the Sport and Art Exchange Academy have already integrated ballet into soccer training — with impressive results.
Contemporary Dance: Freedom Through Movement
Contemporary dance emerged in the early 20th century as a response to the strict structure of classical ballet. Pioneers such as Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, and Doris Humphrey emphasized natural movement, emotional authenticity, and connection to the ground.
Contemporary dance celebrates freedom and individuality. It invites dancers to explore motion beyond limits — twisting, contracting, rolling, and using the floor as an extension of the body. In today’s world of virtual connections, contemporary dance reminds us to stay grounded, to feel, and to express our physical and emotional selves.
It also serves as a powerful tool for social commentary and change. From community performances to global productions, contemporary dance gives a voice to stories that challenge injustice and inspire unity — echoing Emma Goldman’s famous words: “If I can’t dance, it’s not my revolution.”
Career Opportunities in Dance
Beyond its artistic value, dance offers a wealth of professional opportunities. In South Africa, dancers can build careers with leading companies such as:
- Joburg Ballet Company
- Mzansi Productions
- Cape Town City Ballet
- Cape Dance Company
- Vuyani Dance Theatre
Aspiring dancers can pursue a degree in dance at institutions like the Tshwane University of Technology, or train internationally through scholarships at world-renowned academies including:
- Paris Opera Ballet School (France)
- Joffrey Ballet School (USA)
- Vaganova Ballet Academy (Russia)
- Royal Ballet School (UK)
- Juilliard School of Dance (USA)
Alisa Balayan herself received a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School in New York, proving that talent and dedication can open doors around the world.
Career paths also extend to film, theatre, choreography, teaching, and music video production. In South Africa, the Royal Academy of Dance provides pathways for those who wish to become qualified instructors — and the demand for passionate, skilled dance teachers continues to grow.
The Human Connection
Ultimately, dance is more than movement — it is a form of human connection. It teaches discipline, creativity, empathy, and resilience. In a world increasingly dominated by screens and automation, dance reminds us to move, to feel, and to live fully in the moment.
As Alisa concluded in her lecture: “Dance gives us purpose and inspires us to live. It connects us, expresses who we are, and helps us stay human in a world that sometimes forgets what being human means.”
