The Cape Town International Ballet Competition gets a name change, again
Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing.
The Cape Town International Ballet Competition is taking back the original name it started with in 2008 and will now be known (again) as the South African International Ballet Competition.
Dirk Badenhorst, the founder and CEO of the competition, has said that in view of the City of Cape Town’s decision to terminate its funding of the competition, the competition will no longer carry the city’s name.
The fourth South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC) will be supported by the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund and takes place from 17 to 23 February 2014 at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town.
As a ballet entrepreneur, it would seem Dirk Badenhorst rather likes the challenge that comes with a good name change. Apart from the ping-pong name changes for the ballet competition, his other ballet venture, Mzansi Productions, joined with the South African Ballet Theatre in July 2012 to become South African Mzansi Ballet. Then little over a year later, thanks to significant funding by the City of Johannesburg, they changed the name once more to Joburg Ballet.
Let’s hope the City of Joburg continues their funding well into the future, lest we have to report another funding-fragile name change yet again. However, if you read this mixing business with ballet case study, you’ll see that Joburg Ballet’s funders and partners should be particularly chuffed with the ballet company’s growth in 2013.
Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing.
Still time to enter as a dance participant
Hailed by dance enthusiasts as one of the most exciting happenings on the South African ballet calendar, the SAIBC has taken place in Cape Town every second year since 2008 and is the only event of its kind on the African continent.
Said to attract top dancers from SA and the world, this year’s participants already include dancers from Switzerland, Cuba, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, China and the biggest number of South African entrants yet. The prize money totals R340,000.
The closing date for entries is on Monday, 13 January 2014. For the application and competition rules, queries should be addressed to Dirk Badenhorst on badenhorst.db@gmail.com or on 083 324 0949. More details are also available on www.ctibc.com.
Still time to book as a dance spectator
Open to the public and taking place at Artscape Theatre, the Preliminary Elimination Rounds take place on Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 February at 6pm and the Finals take place on Friday 21 February at 7:30pm. The Awards evening, where the top 5 dancers in each category will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals and monetary prizes, takes place on Saturday 22 February at 7:30pm.
Special Gala performances take place on Sunday 23 February at 3pm and 7:30pm to showcase the competition winners along with the Young Korean Ballet Stars from South Korea and top dancers from the National Ballet School of Cuba.
A version of this gala event called the Young Ballet Stars of the World will also be performed at The Lyric Theatre in Johannesburg on 25 and 26 February 2014.
Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing.
SAIBC booking details:
Dates: 18 to 23 February 2014
Venue: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
Tickets:
- R60 for the Preliminary Elimination Rounds via Computicket here (18 – 20 February at 6pm).
- From R150 to to R350 for the Finals via Computicket here (21 February at 7:30pm).
- From R180 to R300 for the Awards evening via Computicket here (22 February at 7:30pm).
- From R200 to R350 for the Gala performances via Computicket here (23 February at 3pm and 7:30pm).
Young Ballet Stars of the World booking details:
Dates: 25 and 26 February 2014
Venue: The Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Johannesburg
Tickets: from R120 to R360 via Computicket here.
Category: Dance News
