In the short time Brock Hayhoe 22 has been with Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB), he has firmly established himself as a favourite among ballet goers.
The soundness of his technique, his warm personality, and an obvious enjoyment in the roles he portrays has singled him out, and cemented his broad appeal since arriving from Canada two years ago.
Now he is heading north again. Not back home to Toronto, where he trained at the National Ballet School of Canada (NBSC), and where his parents live. But to New York to join the internationally-renowned all male ballet company. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Asked how it happened that from being a soloist with Cape Town City Ballet he was accepted into this prestigious company he replies, somewhat modestly "I guess I've been lucky"
Not believing "luck" was the prime factor, I prodded a little deeper and established that Hayhoe has never really seen himself as the "conventional" male dancer in a formal classical ballet company.
"After completing my training at the NBSC I auditioned for the Trocks, and artistic director Tory Dobrin felt I was suitable company material. But lacked the experience that would warrant getting that all important green card to work in America.
"So when in 2006 Rudi van Dantzig invited me to come to Cape Town to dance Death's Angel in his production of his Four Last Songs for CTCB, I jumped at the chance, and was offered a contract to stay after the show."
Hayhoe first met van Dantzig when, as a student, he was cast as Death's Angel in van Dantzig's mounting of Four Last Songs for NBSC. "It was special dancing it in Toronto. It was even more special being here to dance the role at both Artscape and Maynardville. Each venue has a great ambiance. But at Maynardville, in that setting so close to nature, it was a particularly spiritual experience."
And few who saw him with his blonde hair halo-framed by Faheem Bardien's lighting will forget the way he imparted that death was something more to be embraced in life's cycle than a feared conclusion thereof.
It was chance that found Hayhoe, at 16, in a jazz dance group. "Suddenly I felt comfortable. When I joined a ballet class I realized that was where my future lay."
After only one year of once-a-week tuition he auditioned for NBSC and surprisingly was accepted.
"Of hundreds who auditioned, I was one of the 20 accepted. It was very humbling as many who weren't had had years of training behind them."
Hayhoe has loved his time at CTCB. Roles he danced included Don Jose in Carmen, Nutcracker Prince in Nutcracker, Freddie's lover in Queen, Solor in La Bayadere, Albrecht in Giselle, and most recently partnered Megan Swart in Kenneth MacMillan's Concerto.
He acknowledges that executive director Elizabeth Triegaardt has given him opportunities which in other major companies could have taken years to achieve.
Technically, he considers his strengths lie not in technical tricks, but in his flexibility, line, and grand allegro.
As well as an ability to dance sur les pointes. "That's why I accepted Dorbin's offer to join the Trocks. I can follow this path in their wide repertoire, which includes their versions of Les Sylphides, 2nd Act Swan Lake and Paquita, and tour the world while doing what I love best - dancing."