Our vision and mission
As a school for the performing arts, HYPAT intends on becoming the main attraction for the youth of the area and we will forge on ahead until we have established a fully functional school for the performing arts to bring hope to the Helderberg’s most vulnerable children.
Once HYPAT is fully operational, its future needs for specialised teachers for specific disciplines (i.e. music, different dance styles) will qualify it as a job creation programme. One of HYPAT’s far reaching visions, is to eventually produce professionals in the field of the performing arts, and to send dance, music and drama troupes out to present relevant educational shows to schools and communities in the Western Cape. They will also use HYPAT’s premises as a base from which to rehearse. HYPAT’s students should eventually filter into its various professional troupes until these are entirely made up of students who received their training from HYPAT. They, in turn, will be encouraged to take HYPAT’s vision further a-field.
About us
Long before HYPAT’s official registration, the three trustees had worked tirelessly to make their vision a reality, and all of this in their own time and at their own expense. This is just a start of what the trustees believe will, sooner rather than later, be a full time arts’ programme providing a free, safe and rewarding creative environment after school and on Saturdays for our region’s most vulnerable children.
As a registered non-profit organization, HYPAT’s doors are open to all school going children and young adults, regardless of race, culture, language, religion or economic background. Its first annual variety show – organised with minimum funds - was held on the 25th of February 2012, in order to give these young people a chance to shine in the limelight.
Since then, we have had two more annual shows, are going to the National Youth Arts Festival for the fourth time this year and will also be having our fourth annual show (which we now call the Kidz4Kidz show). We have also performed at the WOW Festival in Stellenbosch.
HYPAT has been accepted by The South African Institute for Advancement (a.k.a. Inyahtelo) as a valid one. This Cape Town based organization aims at training non-profit organizations on how to be efficient and effective. On request, we have sent them our business and five year financial plan for scrutiny, comment and correction. Inyathelo approved both business and financial plan (which is available on request).
Our trustees
Brigitte Barabas started teaching Modern Dance Theatre (Martha Graham technique) again in February 2008 at Rusthof Secondary School, Strand, after a twenty year absence from dance due to injury; She also teaches modern dance at Boys Town, Macassar and Sir Lowry’s Pass and has implemented classical ballet in Sir Lowry’s Pass and Strand. As founding trustee, Brigitte Barabas is responsible for the Trust’s general management and performing arts’ development.
Linda Mkaza teaches Arts & Culture at Khyayolwethu Secondary School in Lwandle (Strand). As a qualified drama coach, she rehearsed a play, at her own expense, with local youth at Khyayolwethu Secondary School in Lwandle (Strand). Her drama troupe was nominated for four awards at the 2010 Artscape Schools Drama Festival in Cape Town. Not bad for a first time! Linda is responsible for drama and music development.
Belinda Pontac has, for many years, been actively involved in a local soup kitchen in the low cost housing area, Tarantaalplaas (Rusthof, Strand) that feeds about 30 children every day (often the only meal these children receive). As time-time treasurer for her church, qualified in the Pastel bookkeeping programme and long experience in sales, she brings her extensive marketing, administrative and financial skills and experience to HYPAT.