for a few years after her return to south africa, howes taught at private studios in rondebosch, a suburb of cape town, and in johannesburg, in the northern province of transvaal. in 1934, a momentous event occurred that would change her life: professor william bell, dean of the faculty of music at the university of cape town (uct) invited her to join the university's staff and start a ballet school. she wasted no time in doing so. her students at this school formed the nucleus of a performing group that evolved into the uct ballet company. from the moment of formation howes was adamant that the company would give opportunity to talent, regardless of race or color. from 1941 onward, the school included a three-year diploma course, expanded in 1998 to a degree program at university level. the company toured throughout south africa, by shining rail and dusty road, to remote towns both large and small, and performed beyond the country's borders in southern rhodesia (now zimbabwe), northern rhodesia (now zambia), south west africa (now namibia), and mozambique. howes was both principal dancer and chief choreographer of the company for many years, as well as administrator, ballet mistress, wardrobe supervisor, and stage hand on occasion. by all accounts she was never more than a competent performer and, by her own admission, not a great choreographer. but she was able to inculcate a love of dance and theater in others through the sheer enthusiasm and zeal with which she approached her mission. therein lay the permanent effect she had on the dance history of her country.