The Space For Creative Excellence
John Linden
Creative Director
Linden began his dance training in O’okiep, Namaqualand, in 1976 under the guidance of Alfred Hinkel at the Namakwalandse Dans Geselskap. He then spent time in Windhoek, Namibia, with the Dial Dance Company, before relocating to Cape Town, Johannesburg, and the Wild Coast, where he worked as a freelance performer. Linden later returned to Jazzart Dance Theatre, where his career took a significant turn.
In 1986, he became a founding member of Jazzart Dance Theatre, where he solidified his reputation as a performer, teacher, and choreographer. By 1996, Linden was appointed director of Jazzart’s Dance Joint program, an initiative offering open dance classes to the public, regardless of experience level. Through this program, he made dance accessible to a wider community, fostering artistic development and inclusion.
Alfred Hinkel
Mentor
In 1976, Alfred Hinkel founded his first dance company, the Namakwalandse Dans Geselskap, in the Northern Cape, based in Nababeep and O’okiep. This marked the beginning of his long-standing professional collaboration with John Linden.
Hinkel spent a brief period in Windhoek, Namibia, where he founded the Dial Dance Company in partnership with local dance teacher Dianne Sparks. In 1981, he moved to Cape Town, and in 1986, he acquired the Jazzart Dance Studios from Val Stein. Over the next two decades, Hinkel transformed this small studio into one of South Africa's premier institutions for performing arts training and performance—rebranding it as Jazzart Dance Theatre.
Renowned for his creativity and his drive to push the boundaries of dance, Hinkel’s tenure as artistic director of Jazzart Dance Theatre stands as a defining chapter in South African dance. His work is widely regarded as one of the most significant and influential creative, educational, and socio-political contributions to the country's dance history.
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Byron Klassen
Founder Member & Artistic Director Designate
Byron, a founding member of the Garage Dance Ensemble since December 2011, has distinguished himself as both a talented dancer and a respected teacher. Born in Vier Kamp, O'okiep, he spent his formative years in Eerste River, Cape Town, where he attended high school and excelled in Dance Studies as a matriculation subject.
Byron plays a crucial role in the development of Garage Dance Ensemble’s teaching methodology for dancers of all ages and skill levels.
Byron epitomizes the caliber of creative talent that Garage Dance Ensemble aims to nurture. Recognizing his potential, the ensemble’s management is preparing him to take on a leadership role, ensuring the continued growth and success of the organization.
Faroll Coetzee
Dancer/Photographer/Editor
Faroll, a native of Vier Kamp in O’okiep, Northern Cape, began his dance journey under the guidance of Dawn Langdown at O’okiep High School. While still a student, he expanded his training by attending extracurricular classes with the Garage Dance Ensemble, taught by John Linden and Alfred Hinkel.
At just 17, Faroll made his stage debut in a Garage production at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. In a remarkably short time, he earned recognition as a versatile and accomplished dancer, showcasing a wide stylistic range that spans contemporary, tap, acrobatic, urban street, and traditional dance. His exceptional talent for improvisation further sets him apart as a remarkable performer.
Esmé Marthinus
Dancer/Actress
Born in 1976 in O’okiep, Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa, Esmé began her dance journey with Namjive, a community-based dance program led by Dawn Langdown, where she worked from 1997 to 2010. During this time, she honed her teaching and performance skills, focusing primarily on dance but also exploring other artistic disciplines. In 2013, Esmé joined the Garage Dance Ensemble as a wardrobe mistress and community dance teacher, further contributing to the arts through her multifaceted expertise.
Al-Jerreau Richards
Finance & Marketing
Born in Nababeep in the Northern Cape, Al-Jerreau graduated from Concordia High School in 2012.
In February 2023, he joined the Garage Dance Ensemble as the NAC Help Desk representative. In this role, he collaborated with Alfred Hinkel to support artists from the Nama-Khoi region, helping them meet compliance requirements for funding applications. His efforts contributed to several successes, including a successful application by a fledgling arts organisation from Sanddrift, Richtersveld.
Georgia Julies
Dancer
Georgia, who grew up in Vredendal, a town on the border of the Western and Northern Cape, completed high school in 2020. In 2021, she joined the Garage Dance Ensemble as a trainee, preparing for further studies and professional opportunities. After graduating in December 2023, Georgia was immediately contracted by the company.
In addition to performing with Garage’s part-time students and alongside the ensemble, Georgia has played a key role behind the scenes, frequently managing sound for the company’s full-length productions. Her technical expertise contributed to the success of Garage’s acclaimed USA tour, hosted by Centerstage. In 2024, she has embarked on a two-part tour in Europe as a junior member of Garage Dance Ensemble, performing in Robyn Orlin’s How in Salt’s Desert Is It Possible to Blossom? production.
Jaime-Lee Hine
Dancer/Teacher
Jaime-Lee was born in Kuils River, Cape Town, and graduated from the Western Cape Sport School in 2015. While she did not grow up in the Northern Cape, her maternal ancestry traces back to the region.
In April 2018, Jaime-Lee joined the Garage Dance Ensemble as a trainee. Over the next three years, she earned nationwide recognition and established herself as a formidable dancer, singer, and actress.
In December 2023 Jaime-Lee resigned from the Garage Dance Ensemble to explore opportunities in the freelance dance industry in Cape Town, marking a significant loss for the company. Looking ahead, she plans to pursue opportunities as a freelance performer.
Bertram Isak
Dancer/Actor
Bertram was born in O’okiep in 1985 and completed both his primary and high school education in the region. While attending O’okiep High School, he began his dance and theater training under the guidance of Dawn Langdown.
In 2023, Bertram traveled with the Garage Dance Ensemble on a month-long USA tour hosted by Centerstage, where he served as a répétiteur and led traditional dance workshops. In addition to his work with the ensemble, he is a soloist in the O’okiep Male Voices, a local male choir, and a skilled teacher of Namastap, a traditional Namaqualand First Nation dance form.
Bertram departed from the Garage Dance Ensemble in 2023.
