South African Siphe November is Canada’s youngest national ballet dancer

Siphesihle November used to street dance for fun in the small South African town of Zolani; little did he know that in a few years he will be the youngest member of the National Ballet of Canada.

The 19-year-old got his shot at ballet when a Canadian family saw him during a school recital in South Africa and encouraged him to join Canada’s National Ballet School, reports the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

November moved to Canada when he was 12 years old after he was accepted to the prestigious school based in Toronto. He never looked back since then.

“Dancing was something I did for fun. It was something that everyone in the community did. There was never really a hope or a dream to make it as a professional ballet dancer,” he was quoted by CBC.

He is the first dancer in a new Canadian arts series called The Move and has featured in several performances including Canadian choreographers Robert Binet’s The Dreamers Ever Leave You, James Kudelka’s The Four Seasons and Chrystal Pite’s Emergence held early this year.

November is noted to have a natural charm, strength and effortless rhythm, combined with the technical discipline, flexibility and legacy of the ballet, which make him stand out instantly.

He danced in this weekend’s The Sleeping Beauty which is his first major role held at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto.