Meet Daniel Keyser: Strand's young ballet star heading to New York
Daniel Keyser, 13, in action at the Elements of Dance competition in Camps Bay last year.
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A 13-year-old dancer from Strand, Daniel Keyser, is set to travel to New York in July after being selected for the American Academy of Ballet’s Summer School of Excellence.
He received a scholarship to attend the coveted international dance training programme after being invited to complete the two-hour audition with 11 other ballet dancers in the Cape Town CBD in November last year.
Daniel first attracted attention in the Western Cape dance community after achieving 95% in his Classical Ballet Grade 5 practical exam, adjudicated by the Dance Academy of South Africa, in October last year, and becoming a top achiever in the country with 97% in his Modern Final Grade AIDT exams in November.
The American Academy of Ballet (AAB) scholarship will cover 65% of his expenses in the United States, including his class fees, accommodation and food while attending the Summer School of Excellence, where he will have the opportunity to train with 200 other dancers selected from all over the world.
Daniel Keyser is set to travel to New York in July after being selected for the American Academy of Ballet’s Summer School of Excellence.
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According to Keyser, he qualified for nationals in every competition, but because the family did not have the funds to cover the travel costs, they focused on regional competitions and continuing his training.
He currently attends 10 hours of dance classes per week after school.
Daniel recently competed in his first dance competition for this year, scoring Pro-Gold for his Lyrical solo at Elements of Dance at the Camps Bay High School, and receiving a special award for “Best Male Performer” across the whole competition.
The Keyser family in 2012: Renier and his wife, Lise-Marie, with their adopted children Jenna and Daniel.
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Daniel’s adoptive mother Lise-Marie Keyser said the family still needs to raise funds for his flights, visa, extra accommodation and transport. She has since started a back-a-buddy campaign to support his trip to the US.
“What makes his achievement remarkable is that he qualified for the AAB’s high school training programme even though he was only 13, meaning he was competing with much older dancers. There is a big difference between a 13-year-old and a 17-year-old,” said Keyser.
Daniel attended the Hendrik Louw Primary School in Strand and is now in Grade 8 at Parel Vallei High School in Somerset West.
He started ballet at the age of five and joined the Rhapsody Centre of Performing Arts in 2024. He only started taking part in dance competitions last year. Among many other achievements, he scored Platinum for his Lyrical solo at the AIDT Dancer of the Year competition, held at The Playhouse Theatre, Somerset West, in September 2025, placing him in the Top 3 at the Western Cape regionals.
“He is really excited for his trip to New York, where he will stay in the dorms with other dancers, and train for up to nine hours per day with some of the best teachers and choreographers in the world, before taking part in two professional performances at the end of their training,” Keyser said.
"We would like to request anyone with the means to contribute, as this means a lot to him."