Eoan Group dancer Jadyn Oks awarded scholarship for cultural exchange in Indonesia

Jadyn Oks, 20, a dance student at the Eoan Group of Performing Arts, has been awarded a scholarship to attend a three-month training programme in Indonesia.

She is one of 10 participants selected for the 2025 Indonesian Arts and Culture Scholarship (IACS) programme and is the youngest among them. Jadyn left for Indonesia on Saturday, June 21.

The Eoan Group’s dance director, Abeedah Medell, who was one of the first people from South Africa selected for this programme some years ago, said she is excited for Jadyn to have "this rich experience."

“The scholarship is only available to 10 people from Pan-Asia and Africa, and only one of it was available for Cape Town specifically. We have a relationship with the Indonesian consul-general in Cape Town and have been supporting their markets, dance festivals and other cultural events since 1997," she said, adding that the programme was not running during Covid and only returned this year.

She said when she had enquired about it, she had been told that only one student would be selected from Cape Town, and Jadyn applied immediately.

"She has represented the Eoan Group twice in Germany and did a very fine job of it. To me, this scholarship came at the perfect time. Jadyn deserves this opportunity. I feel like it's divine intervention. I want my dance students to experience what I experienced there. I hope Jadyn will have a blessed experience of the culture, the people, the dance and the places she will get to go to,” Ms Medell said.

Over the past 11 years with the Eoan Group, Jadyn has developed her skills across various dance genres and developed a strong interest in traditional Indonesian dance.

“I am really excited to learn more about their dances. It’s exciting and nerve-wrecking. I don’t know anything about their language, but I am looking forward to learning about their language, culture, cooking, and entrepreneurship. Five of my dance teachers have gone to Indonesia on this scholarship before, and I am so super grateful for this opportunity. I was excited to hear the stories and now I get to experience it myself. I am so grateful for the strong support surrounding me,” Jadyn said.

Ms Medell said the historic link between Indonesia and South Africa is another reason why she believes this opportunity is so significant. 

“There is definitely a genetics and history link, because of the slave trade then. This is an important part of history. Five of Jadyn’s teachers have done this programme and they have passed on what they have learnt, hence it continues at the Eoan Group. That's how we have grown our repertoire of Indonesian culture. This experience will grow Jadyn immensely as a person and dancer. Her mind will definitely be illuminated,” she said.