Debbie Turner was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Cape Town City Ballet in October 2018.

Debbie is the founding Artistic Director of the Cape Dance Company (established in 1995 and now dormant as a result of her new appointment). The Cape Dance Company’s associated vocational dance school, the Cape Academy of Performing Arts (established in 1985) continues to operate as normal. 

She is an active member of local and international dance communities and is regularly called on to offer her expertise in various capacities in the field.   Recently, she sat on the prestigious panel of judges for the inaugural 2018 season of M-Net’s; Dancing With The Stars SA season produced by Rapid Blue (Pty) Ltd. 

Commencing her dance training in Durban at the age of three with classical ballet, South African-born Debbie went on to study and work with world renowned teachers and choreographers across multiple dance forms with a strong focus on ballet and Spanish dance, including becoming the Latin American Western Province Champion in a short period of time. She also enjoyed a professional performance career in Spanish dance for many years under the direction of Dame Mavis Becker. This varied and rich experience in her early years has largely influenced her teaching methodology, artistic direction and choreographic style. Debbie also has a Bachelor Degree of Music in Dance from the University of Cape Town.

She has won many awards for her choreography including the FNB Vita Award in 1995, and a Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival for Cape Dance Company’s Blue in 2014, followed by appearing as the headline dance company on the Main Programme in 2016 to sold out performances. In addition the school received a Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival for Bittersweet in 2013, which resulted in the production of Between The Lines in 2014 on the Arena Programme and at the inaugural Cape Town Fringe Festival, both co-directed by Nathalie Vijver, head of Drama at the school.

 Graduates of the Cape Academy of Performing Arts have gone on to illustrious dance careers with global companies and productions, as well as various local and international accolades, including Londiwe Khoza, who was awarded the 2016 - 2018 Rolex International Mentee for Dance under the mentorship of Ohad Naharin and Mthuthuzeli November winner of 2016 Klein Karoo Nationale Kunstefees (KKNK) Best Newcomer Award. Alice Godfrey, who spent three years in the world-renowned Nederlands Dans Teater 2 company in Den Haag, Holland before being hired in the first company, NDT1, both under the masterful directorship of Paul Lightfoot. 

Debbie is committed to restoring, revitalising and aligning South African dance with the 21^st Century global trends of performance through sustainable, multi-pronged approach to performance excellence, diverse repertory relevant to current times, dance education, and professional development of dancers while preserving the traditions of classical ballet and academic dance in general.