Hi, I'm Robynn, and I'm a student of the potential of the body, the marvels of the mind, and the beauty of it all combined in ballet.
As the editor, BodyMindBallet is where I get to learn, to share and to enjoy this wide world of dance - and with every day I gain an ever richer respect for the athleticism of dance and the skill of performance artistry.
South African Mzansi Ballet is looking for senior corps de ballet and soloist dancers to fill short-term contracts and the company will be holding open auditions for male and female dancers at their studios on 29 and 30 April. South African Mzansi Ballet (SAMB) is a classically based company performing the traditional classical repertoire and […]
We’ve heard it said that if you see only one ballet in your life, let it be Swan Lake. This traditional ballet classic is being brought to Johannesburg audiences in July by the internationally acclaimed St Petersburg Ballet Theatre, thrilling audiences with their classic Russian production of the world’s most famous and beautiful ballet. The […]
While ballet audiences in Johannesburg recently saw the triumph of young love over parental match-making with the humorous twists and turns of Don Quixote, the Cape Town City Ballet now prepares to serve a far more dramatic and tragic contrast with Camille (at Artscape from 2 to 12 May). In this story, based on the […]
Call me greedy, but I just wasn’t satisfied with one performance of Don Quixote, so I had to go back for seconds. It’s a good thing too, because even though both performances (by the South African Mzansi Ballet at the Joburg Theatre) had that sizzling Spanish spice throughout, it was revealing to see how different […]
In the Mind category of BodyMindBallet, we’ll explore the impact that mental attitudes and patterns of thought can have on a dancer’s performance. We’ll talk to experts in the fields of psychology, neuro-science and human potential for their advice, from memory tricks for concert rehearsals to stress-coping techniques and more. Watch this space for these […]
20 March marks the autumnal equinox for the southern hemisphere, and as the leaves start to show bold shades of gold here in Johannesburg, autumn certainly seems to be settling in for a visit. While I’m sad to wave goodbye to summer, the golden season brings its own gentle, yet dramatic beauty. These qualities are […]
Sorry ladies, this one’s definitely a myth, and a dangerous one at that, especially for a dancer. According to the Journal of Experimental Biology, researchers have found that the Achilles tendon of women who wear high heels actually thicken over time and stiffen permanently. In fact, high heel wearers are found to have muscle fibres […]
As part of The Fugard Theatre’s World Opera and Ballet Season, they have one screening of La Scala Ballet’s colourful production of Notre-Dame de Paris – at 4pm on Sunday 24 March. Here’s the blurb: Notre-Dame de Paris, inspired by Victor Hugo’s novel, with music by Maurice Jarre, sets by René Allio and the renowned […]
According to Sean Bovim of Bovim Ballet, “Private Presley is a Rock-‘n-Roll Ballet that juggles full-speed, fun and energetic group dance numbers with intimate and heart-wrenching love duets.” Featuring over 20 of Elvis Presley’s hit songs (think Love Me Tender, Suspicious Minds, Jailhouse Rock and Blue Suede Shoes), you can expect some thrilling, hip-swaying choreography, […]
Choros – a mesmerising experimental dance film Through some digital magic, one solo dancer fluidly multiplies into many while simultaneously also melting back into herself, creating a phantom echo that moves beautifully in sync. It’s an enchanting study of human movement, set to the chiming “Music for 18 Musicians” by Steve Reich. This experimental art […]
Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content.
A few surprises revealed in Joburg Ballet’s Don Quixote casting
Don Quixote is known to be one of the most lively, big, bold and vibrant ballets, and we should be expecting exciting things from Joburg Ballet who love to snatch every opportunity to show off their virtuoso skills. Don Quixote opens at the Joburg Theatre tonight, 28 August, and runs until 13 September 2015, but […]
Joburg’s leading dancers perform in Ballet Highlights Gala – new format, new venue
For three performances only, Joburg Ballet are visiting a new venue with a shorter one-hour programme at a smaller price-point, aiming to take the best ballet highlights to more people. And with an impressive sounding line-up of popular dance pieces, you might want to take up the opportunity too at the Roodepoort Theatre this weekend […]
Cape Town City Ballet takes Thumbelina to Pietermaritzburg
On 8 and 9 July, the full-length ballet of Thumbelina, a Cape Town City Ballet Youth project, will be on stage at the Hilton College Theatre produced in association with the KZN Midlands Youth Ballet Company. Starring nine principal dancers from the Cape Town City Ballet in the leading roles, and 71 ballet students from […]
Grand classical Russian ballet tour to open in South Africa this week
Having already toured to 36 cities in France since the start of the year, the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre open their South African tour on Wednesday 6 May at Montecasino in Johannesburg performing Giselle, followed by Don Quixote and Swan Lake before they head to Cape Town to perform Swan Lake at Artscape from 19 […]
A few surprises revealed in Joburg Ballet’s Don Quixote casting
Don Quixote is known to be one of the most lively, big, bold and vibrant ballets, and we should be expecting exciting things from Joburg Ballet who love to snatch every opportunity to show off their virtuoso skills. Don Quixote opens at the Joburg Theatre tonight, 28 August, and runs until 13 September 2015, but […]
Joburg’s leading dancers perform in Ballet Highlights Gala – new format, new venue
For three performances only, Joburg Ballet are visiting a new venue with a shorter one-hour programme at a smaller price-point, aiming to take the best ballet highlights to more people. And with an impressive sounding line-up of popular dance pieces, you might want to take up the opportunity too at the Roodepoort Theatre this weekend […]
Video: Is ballet a sport? Are dancers athletes?
In her recent sports and fitness article, Discovery’s online editor, Catherine Davis, asked: Is ballet a sport? And, are ballerinas athletes? To any aspiring and professional dancer, the answers to these questions are painfully obvious. Painful in more ways than one, but sadly only obvious to some. The art and pursuit of making dance look […]