A Dancer’s Tale

The Story of Phyllis Spira

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A Dancer’s Tale: The Story of Phyllis Spira
Illustrated by Thea Nicole de Klerk
Written by Samantha Cutler
Designed by Roberto Pita
with the help of Book Dash participants in Cape Town on 28 June 2014.
ISBN: 978-0-9946519-1-4
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Thea Nicole de Klerk
Samantha Cutler
and Roberto Pita

Once upon a time,
not so far away,
a baby called Phyllis
was born for ballet.
Two people in love,
her Mom and her Dad,
could not have known yet
what a dancer they had.

When Phyllis was four
she had us transfixed:
impressing her teachers
with ducky feet flicks.
Before school and after,
she danced every day.
Nothing pleased Phyllis
more than ballet.

The world would soon see,
when, only fifteen,
she travelled to London
to live out her dream.
Far from home and her friends,
she was starting afresh.
The Royal Ballet school
would soon be impressed!

When she danced Swan Lake
it was fit for the Queen!
After years pirouetting,
it was time to be seen!
She took to the stage,
leaping, twirling about,
with everyone smiling!
They clap and they shout!

From Mexico to Canada,
the US to France,
everyone asked her
to visit and dance.
With the Royal Ballet,
and all of her friends,
she spread love for dancing
so it never would end.

Still, Phyllis missed home,
they’d been too long apart.
She longed to return
and to make a fresh start.
So she leaped and she bounded
to her beautiful land,
to walk once again
on South African sand.

Dance isn’t just fun,
as Phyllis well knew:
she worked day and night,
and with hard work she grew.
Always smiling and tireless,
through good times and tough,
she aimed for her best.
‘Good’ was never enough.

Romeo and Juliet,
Swan Lake and Giselle.
She captured each audience
under her spell.
With Gary Burne beside her,
Eduard Greyling too,
her dancing was magic
in every review.

Reward comes eventually,
when you’re put to the test.
And one day South Africa
would call her the best:
‘Prima Ballerina Assoluta’,
greatest dancer of all,
her title forever.
Phyllis wanted no more.

Soon Phyllis found love
when she met Philip Boyd,
a dancer himself!
They were both overjoyed.
In love, they soon married,
and together they’d dance.
No match could be better
when given the chance!

They didn’t have children
but never were sad,
for they had a way
to help all moms and dads.
Their school, Dance For All,
would give children a chance,
from all walks of life,
to learn and love dance.

Her gift to the world
and all her success
help others to realise
they can be their best.
They dance for us now,
inspired by her feats,
inspiring us, too,
as we dream in our seats.

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