We didn't start with a building. We started with a purpose.
Talitha de Klerk was performing on stage when she overheard something that changed everything. After the show, (something she had poured her heart and soul into) an audience member was comparing the lead roles with each other, and worrying about what they'd eat after the show. It hadn’t impacted them in any way.
She walked out of the company the next year.
Not because she stopped loving dance. Because she started asking what dance was for.
The answer she came back to: dance is an act of worship before it is a skill. A gift before it is a performance. It is for identity and for knowing who you are. For becoming the person God made you to be, in a room that believes that before you do.
Rhythm of Hope Dance was founded on that conviction. Thirteen years later, it hasn't changed.
What makes us different
Most dance studios have a curriculum. We have two. The official syllabus (Cecchetti Ballet, DASA Ballet, DASA Contemporary, AIDT Hip-Hop) and the Identity Curriculum, that runs alongside it.
The Identity Curriculum is proprietary. It was built by our team, refined over 13 years, and it runs in every class we teach, both in the studio and in the outreach. Every month, students work through one identity value, rooted in who God says they are, to help them foster a sense of Belonging (Term 1); sense of Worth (Term 2) and Sense of Competence (Term 3).
Our heart is to open and close every class in prayer. Because what happens in these rooms is ministry, not just movement.
We don't train dancers to compete. We train them to serve. The result is not just students who can perform. It's young people who know what they're worth and who they're here for.
A movement called toward Africa
Rhythm of Hope started in Pretoria but the vision was always larger. We believe dance is a tool for identity, redemption, and lasting impact across the continent. We are building towards the day when this curriculum, this teaching, and this belief about who children are, reaches families across Africa.
It starts with one child in one class. It doesn't end there.
Mission
Dance has always been our language and we believe it can cross borders.
Our next dance ministry mission trip takes us to Eswatini, 3–8 July, where we'll carry that language into a new community and see what God does with it.
Want to know what a ROHD mission trip looks like? Hear about our previous one here.
The People Behind It All
Our Leadership & Teaching Team
Talitha de Klerk
CEO & Founder — Ballet, Outreach & Events
With ROHD since: 2012
Talitha founded Rhythm of Hope in 2012 and has led the organisation ever since, overseeing ballet, outreach, events, and the Hope Girls mentoring programme. She is the heartbeat of everything ROHD does.
Larissa Zeelie
COO — Dance, Ministry & Admin
With ROHD since: 2015
Larissa has been part of ROHD for over a decade and leads our COO function across dance, outreach, events, and ministry. A dancer and choreographer with a rich performance background, including the SA Dance Team 2014, three professional musicals, and leading Doxa Deo Brooklyn's Dance Ministry since 2019, she brings both passion and precision to everything she does.
Jacqueline Hall
CFO — Shop, Hope Girls & Funding
With ROHD since: 2023
Jacque brings sharp financial and operational leadership to the organisation, overseeing the ROHD Shop, Hope Girls programme, and funding initiatives. She holds qualifications in Family Law Mediation, BAdmin Public Management and International Relations, and BA(Hons) International Relations.
Ilona Matthee
Client Relations & Outreach Operations
With ROHD since: 2025
Ilona manages client relationships, order operations, and outreach donations and costumes, keeping the behind-the-scenes of ROHD running smoothly and warmly.
Our Teachers
Zahre Harris
Ballet Teacher
With ROHD since: 2018
Zahre has trained across some of South Africa's finest stages, including the State Theatre and winter schools at Joburg Ballet, and holds Advanced 2 Cecchetti and Associates Cecchetti qualifications, alongside a BOccTher and MOccTher. Her love of dance and deep knowledge of movement brings a unique richness to her teaching.
Emma Crafford
Ballet Teacher & Events Manager
With ROHD since: 2023
Emma has been Cecchetti-trained since the age of 5, progressing to Advanced II and dancing as a soloist in State Theatre productions. She obtained her Associate qualification in 2018 and her Associate Diploma in 2023, returning to teaching at ROHD after a season in the corporate world reminded her where her heart truly was.
Cresando Krope
Ballet Studio Manager — LMPS
With ROHD since: 2025
Cresando has been dancing since the age of 3 and joined the South African Ballet School at 8. A runner-up for the Mable Ryan award and graduate of the Enrico Cecchetti course in Italy, she received her Associate qualification in 2010 and runs her own studio in Eersterust, which she founded in 2019.
Portia Tabola
Contemporary Teacher & Ministry
With ROHD since: 2025
Portia trained as a dance major at Pro Arte and was part of the Youth Dance Company of Tshwane for 3½ years. She has been woven into ROHD's annual productions for the past 10 years and brings a deep heart for dance ministry to everything she offers.
Alexia Pachinger
Ballet Intern — Teaching & Events
With ROHD since: 2026
Alexia's love for ballet was sparked early and grew through RAD and Cecchetti training, including Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate examinations in 2022. She joined ROHD in 2024 as she transitioned into adult ballet — and found a home here.
Leamé Els
Ballet Teacher — Kinderdorpie
With ROHD since: 2026
Ballet has always been at the centre of Leamé's life and has shaped who she is. She brings warmth and deep roots in both Cecchetti Ballet and RAD Ballet to her teaching, with experience in modern dance as well.
Betty van Biljon
Outreach Teacher
With ROHD since: 2026
Betty brings a wealth of performance experience to the outreach classroom, having danced across DASA and RAD Ballet, AIDT Modern, and more. She is a familiar and beloved presence in our outreach community.
Hestie van Biljon
Outreach Teacher
With ROHD since: 2026
Hestie is a highly qualified educator and dancer, holding teaching certificates from RAD, DASA, and AIDT, alongside a BA, BA(Hons) and Diploma in Tertiary Education from UNISA. She brings both rigour and heart to the outreach classroom.
Dylan Kotze
Hip Hop Studio Manager & Teacher
With ROHD since: 2026
Dylan has been dancing for 19 years, starting in Centurion, running his own studio with his sister, competing internationally, and working with artists on music videos and choreography. He now brings that energy and experience to ROHD's Hip Hop studio.
Vuyo Mapolisa
Hope Girls & Studio Assistant — Outreach & Shop
With ROHD since: 2026
Vuyo supports the Hope Girls programme, assists with outreach studio management, and helps coordinate shop sales and stock. She is a warm and grounding presence across everything she touches.
Behind every class, every student, and every production is a team of people who chose to show up, week after week, year after year. We are deeply grateful for each one.
Meet our Board of DirectorsOur relationship with Rhythm of Hope Outreach
ROHD and ROHO are sister organisations. Same leadership. Same Identity Curriculum. Different audiences.
ROHD is the fee-paying studio. ROHO is the registered NPO that provides free classes to children who couldn't otherwise access them. The studio funds the outreach. They are not separate projects. They are one purpose, running on two tracks.
Come and see it for yourself
A free trial class costs nothing. It shows you everything.
Choose your location. Takes two minutes.