A KALTBLUT exclusive introducing dancer Rahl Burke. Concept & Production by Daniel Lathwesen. DOP by Sonjay Williams. Editor is Vangelis Trichias. All fashion by Effenberger Couture.
[00:00]
I am Rahl Burke, an 18-year-old ballet dancer from South Africa. The thought of dancing [music] and just general stage performance had always been floating around, but the idea only came into fruition [music] when I was 13. I started with a little bit of modern, thought maybe musical theatre might [music] be a pathway I can take.
[00:42]
And [music] on the side, I did a little ballet to strengthen it. >> [music] >> Dance is an amalgamation of my real passions. It’s performance art, it’s fine arts, it’s brutal physicality put in one of the most competitive environments you’ll find.
[01:12]
And as a person, I’m completely drawn to that. My main interest [music] comes from a very unconventional place. I have an extreme history [music] with self-harming.
[01:33]
And the pure brutality you find through ballet, from my experience, is unmatched. And that control of the pain my body feels, it is so liberating that I don’t have to do it with a razor on the side of the road, and I get to do it in >> [music] >> beautiful studio spaces or on high-class stages. And actually turn such a painful mentality into [music] a beautiful product.
[02:18]
Through the South African International Ballet Competition, I was awarded a scholarship by Chris Van Niekerk to audition at the Berlin State Ballet School. I would move companies, I would change studios, I would get new environments, but the ballet training would always be the same, and it would always take priority. And that kept me sane through times where I would be in positions most people in my field would never find themselves in.
Concept & Production by Daniel Lathwesen / www.daniellathwesen.com / Instagram: @It_s_dtothel
Dancer: Rahl Burke / Instagram: @rahlburke
DOP: Sonjay Williams / www.sonjaywilliams.co.uk Instagram: @sonjaywilliams
Editor: Vangelis Trichias / vimeo.com/vangelistrichias / Instagram: @bigvague
Styling: Effenberger Couture / www.effenberger-couture.com / Instagram: @effenberger_couture
