Cuban-born dancers, Claudia Monja and Juan Carlos Osma perform their debut leading roles as Kitri and Basilio. Photo by Lauge Sorensen

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 with a few surprises in the casting.

Ramiro Samón was quite literally the poster boy in the company’s advertising for their previous production of Don Quixote.

One sad farewell and some happy hellos

Regular Joburg Ballet fans will notice from the casting below that one of their favourite virtuoso dancers is missing from the line-up.

For all those watching his growth over the last few years, Ramiro Samón has been a strong and steady rising star, winning a gold medal at the 2014 South African International Ballet Competition and consistently wowing audiences with his tremendous strength – I mean those cabrioles of his were just ridiculous, see it in the video here!

There was an almost tangible sense about him that he would never settle for less than technical perfection. And perhaps because of that, he’s been offered a wonderful opportunity with a contract in Toulouse and Joburg Ballet has wished him a sad, but very warm farewell for his adventures ahead. Chukkas, Ramiro!

But of course, Joburg Ballet has no shortage of very strong male lead dancers. In fact, for the first time during their previous season of Swan Lake, they had more lead male dancers than lead role openings.

To add to this, the company has also invited two exciting guest artists to join the season. Returning to South Africa, popular guests, Aaron Smyth from Australia and Jonhal Fernández from the National Ballet of Ecuador will alternately perform in the lead roles partnered with Joburg Ballet’s own prima ballerina, Burnise Silvius, who will in turn also have one performance with Joburg Ballet’s Randol Figueredo.

Jonhal Fernández from the National Ballet of Ecuador will be performing as a guest artist with Joburg Ballet’s Burnise Silvius.

From injuries to special moment debuts

While Jonathan Rodrigues – another of Joburg Ballet’s popular lead males – has been recovering following an injury (and fans will be happy to know that he’s now almost 100% recovered), this has opened the opportunity for the tall Cuban dancer, Juan Carlos Osma, to mark his debut as the dashing Basilio. He will partner with fellow Cuban, Claudia Monja, who will headline the opening night in her first ever performance in the role of Kitri.

Principal dancers Shannon Glover and Michael Revie will also perform as the leading Spanish lovers. And among other roles in the production, Mercedes will be danced by Burnise Silvius, Claudia Monja, Nicole Ferreira-Dill and Kirstel Jensen, while the toreador Espada will be danced by Aaron Smyth, Juan Carlos Osma, Jonathan Rodrigues and Michael Revie.

Casting for Joburg Ballet’s Don Quixote 2015:

For the roles of Kitri, Basilio, Mercedes, Espada, Amour and Queen of the Dryads. Casting subject to change.

• Fri 28 Aug 19:30: Monja, Osma, Silvius, Smyth, Acuna, Ferreira-Dill
• Sat 29 Aug 15:00: Silvius, Smyth, Monja, Osma, Dewey, Ferreira-Dill
• Sun 30 Aug 15:00: Glover, Revie, Ferreira-Dill, Rodrigues, Acuna, Monja
• Tue 1 Sep 11:00: Silvius, Figueredo, Jensen, Revie, Gerber, Glover
• Sat 5 Sep 15:00: Monja, Osma, Glover, Revie, Gerber, Ferreira-Dill
• Sun 6 Sep 15:00: Silvius, Smyth, Phetla, Osma, Jensen, Glover
• Fri 11 Sep 19:30: Glover, Revie, Ferreira-Dill, Rodrigues, Dewey, Monja
• Sat 12 Sep 15:00: Silvius, Fernandez, Monja, Osma, Jensen, Monja
• Sun 13 Sep 15:00: Monja, Osma, Glover, Smyth, Acuna, Ferreira-Dill

To whet your appetite for this Spanish feast, here’s a sneak peek video compilation filmed by Lauge Sorensen at this week’s dress rehearsal:

Don Quixote at Joburg Theatre from Lauge Sorensen on Vimeo.

Booking details:

Dates: Friday 28 August – Sunday 13 September 2015.
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Tickets: from R100 to R400 via JoburgTheatre.com or 0861 670 670

Joburg Ballet’s prima ballerina Burnise Silvius will perform the pas de deux with Ramiro Samon from the dazzling Don Quixote. Photo by Susanne Holbaek

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 on 10 and 11 July.

The company’s prima ballerina, Burnise Silvius, will perform the Don Quixote Pas de Deux partnered by Ramiro Samón from Cuba, who was last year’s SA International Ballet Competition gold medal winner (see the video below). Alternating these roles will be principal dancers Shannon Glover and Michael Revie.

Javier Monier in a virtuoso performance of Diana and Acteon. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing

Other classical ballet pas de deux include The Flames of Paris with Shana Dewey and Ramiro Samón, Satanella with Dayana Acuna and Javier Monier, and Diana and Acteon where Burnise Silvius and Ramiro Samón will share the roles with Dayana Acuna and Javier Monier.

Along with highlights from Swan Lake, La Sylphide and La Bayadère, there will also be two romantic short ballets by artistic director Iain MacDonald, including one danced to Strauss’ Blue Danube Waltz – one of the most famous pieces of music in the world.

But it’s not all about the classics, rounding off the programme are three items with South African music, choreography or themes: Gauteng to music by Miriam Makeba, Jantjie to music by Anton Goosen, and Fearless by young SA choreographer, John Tsunke.

And if you still need a little more convincing, watch this short video of the powerful, controlled performance that helped win the gold medal for Ramiro Samón. This was his Satanella variation at the 2014 South African International Ballet Competition.

Booking details:

Dates: Friday 10 July 2015 at 8pm; Saturday 11 July 2015 at 3pm and 8pm
Venue: Roodepoort City Theatre, Roodepoort (you’ll find the directions here)
Tickets: R140 to R170 from www.roodepoorttheatre.com or phone 0861 670 670.

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 effortless and easy, leads many observers to think that perhaps it is. (Never mind that some of these same critics couldn’t touch their own toes, let alone fly through the air in grand jeté splits. Just saying.)

But fortunately, Discovery found a more diplomatic and compelling answer for their readers through this video interview with Cape Town City Ballet’s senior principal dancer, Laura Bosenberg. See the short but inspiring video here (beautifully produced by Stage 5 Films) and share with your friends…

Elizabeth Nienaber and Ivan Boonzaaier in Cape Town City Ballet’s Thumbelina. Photo by Jacques Conradie

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 across Pietermaritzburg studios, the production is directed by Robin van Wyk, artistic director of the Cape Town City Ballet and tells the much-loved fairytale story by Hans Christian Andersen, complete with jitterbugs, ice fairies, snow crystals and blue birds.

Thumbelina’s little Ice Fairies. Photo by Jacques Conradie

Boys and girls of all ages have been coached by Colleen Boote, Susan Cleary, Joyann Goddard, Brenda Hunter, Lisa Jennings, Domaine Keyser, Brenda Mc Lachlan, Julia Powell, Heather Proctor and Cornelia Puller.

The production is playing for four performances only at the Hilton College Theatre on 8 and 9 July 2015. If you’re in the KZN Midlands, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to see the Cape Town  professionals and support the exciting local young talent.

Here’s a short but lovely sneak peek into a scene from Act 1, danced here by Elizabeth Nienaber and Ivan Boonzaaier.

Booking details:

Dates: 8 and 9 July 2015
Venue: Hilton College Theatre, Pietermaritzburg
Tickets: R100 from www.hiltontheatre.co.za.

The St Petersburg Ballet Theatre bring a festival of ballets to South Africa in May 2015, including Giselle, Don Quixote (seen here) and Swan Lake.

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 May 2015.

But at least in Johannesburg, the Russian company has a tough act to follow after Joburg Ballet’s very recent and spectacular production of Swan Lake, complete with grand new sets, clever new storytelling twists, and a collaborative international cast of 80 dancers including three prima ballerinas sharing the stage.

For ballet fans though, there’s no such thing as Swan Lake fatigue, and every company offers their own unique experience. In this case, the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre have a few things going for them.

For one, ballet lovers in Joburg are in for a decadent triple-bill treat, with the cast of 55 dancers performing the three ballet favourites of Giselle, Don Quixote and Swan Lake in true traditional, classical Russian style.

Due to scheduling constraints for the Cape Town tour, the company will be performing the much-loved Swan Lake only, but it’s the first time the company will be in the mother city after eight years, which is in itself a welcome treat. All performances are accompanied by a live orchestra too, with either the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra or the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.

The company’s trump card

But the ace up the company’s sleeve is most certainly their prima ballerina, Irina Kolesnikova, who recently returned to the stage after the birth of her daughter. Known for her magnetic stage presence, rock-solid technique and fiery fouetté turns, she transports the audience deep into the magic and mystery of her ballet characters.

Watch this entertaining video clip as the Top Billing crew go behind the scenes for more insights into the company, its lead ballerina and their upcoming SA tour…

Booking Details – Johannesburg:

Dates for Giselle: 6 – 8 May 2015
Dates for Don Quixote: 9 – 10 May 2015
Dates for Swan Lake: 12 – 16 May 2015
Venue: The Teatro at Montecasino
Tickets: from R290 to R690 via Computicket

Booking Details – Cape Town:

Dates for Swan Lake: 19 – 25 May 2015
Venue: Artscape Opera House
Tickets: from R285 to R630 via Computicket

Cuban prima ballerina Viengsay Valdés and US star Brooklyn Mack will dance the principal roles in two performances of Joburg Ballet’s Swan Lake this weekend.

As the prima ballerina of the National Ballet of Cuba, Viengsay Valdés is widely acclaimed as one of the leading ballerinas of our time. Watch her and US ballet star, Brooklyn Mack from the Washington Ballet, in this mini-documentary video clip as they perform and talk about their inspirations and challenges, particularly with Swan Lake.

For more behind-the-scenes footage, see the other mini-documentary episodes here.

Two performances only for the dynamic duo

As visiting guests, Viengsay Valdés and Brooklyn Mack will be performing together in the leading roles in Joburg Ballet’s new production of Swan Lake for two performances – on Friday evening, 24 April 2015, and Sunday afternoon, 26 April 2015.

You’ll also have one more opportunity to watch Brooklyn Mack when he dances opposite South Africa’s own prima ballerina Burnise Silvius, with their single performance together scheduled to close the Swan Lake season on Sunday, 3 May 2015 at 3pm.

Booking details:

Dates: Friday 17 April – Sunday 3 May 2015.
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Tickets: from R100 to R400 via JoburgTheatre.com or 0861 670 670

The Liaoning Ballet’s Yu Chuanya performing in the opening night of Joburg Ballet’s Swan Lake. Photo by Bill Zurich

“China is now producing superb classical dancers, among the best in the world,” said Joburg Ballet’s artistic director, Iain MacDonald. And he should know, considering his tour to China with the company last year, and Joburg Ballet’s collaboration with China’s Liaoning Ballet for their current season of Swan Lake. And now you’ll have a unique opportunity to see for yourself, not just by watching the dancers on the Joburg stage, but in their warm-up class too.

This Saturday, 25 April 2015, Joburg Ballet is hosting an open day at their studios, featuring the 20 Liaoning Ballet dancers as they take class with the company and warm up for their performances. The open day starts at 1pm to coincide with the dancers’ class, followed by tea from 2pm. Tickets are R120 (which includes the tea) and bookings can be made with Edgar on 011 877 6898 or edgar@joburgballet.com.

See the Liaoning Ballet’s principal dancers, Ma Ming and Yu Chuanya, in ballet class during Joburg Ballet’s Open Day on 25 April 2015. Photo by Bill Zurich

Big collaboration for Swan Lake

The combination of Joburg Ballet, the Liaoning Ballet, as well as guest dancers from Cuba and the United States plus additional performers appearing in this production brings together an impressive 80 dancers for Swan Lake.

The 20 dancers from the Liaoning Ballet will perform alongside Joburg Ballet’s dancers in principal, soloist and corps de ballet roles, with two performances during the season (Sunday 19 April at 3pm and Saturday 25 April at 7:30pm) featuring principal dancers from the Liaoning Ballet in the leading roles of Odette-Odile and the Prince. You can find the full casting details here.

The Liaoning Ballet of China was founded in 1980 and is one of China’s major ballet companies, performing ballets on Chinese themes as well as a strong classical repertoire, including Swan Lake, Le Corsaire, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty and Spartacus. The company has 64 dancers in its roster and tours extensively, with past destinations including Europe, Australia, Japan, Cuba, Russia and Canada.

Here is a video clip of the company performing a traditional Chinese folk dance en pointe.

Booking details for Open Day:

Dates: Saturday 25 April 2015 from 1pm to 2pm, followed by tea.
Venue: Joburg Ballet studios off Hoofd Street, Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Tickets: R120 per person (includes tea), bookings via Edgar on 011 877 6898 or edgar@joburgballet.com

Booking details:

Dates: Friday 17 April – Sunday 3 May 2015.
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Tickets: from R100 to R400 via JoburgTheatre.com or 0861 670 670

A scene from Lauge Sorensen’s beautifully produced mini-documentary for Joburg Ballet.

Joburg Ballet have created a video series that takes you into their studios and into dancers’ homes to follow their journey as they rehearse and prepare for every detail of their new production of Swan Lake 2015.

With new choreography, new stage sets and an international cast from China, Cuba, the United States, Brazil and South Africa – the logistics are scary and the nerves are running high, but so is the excitement.

But let’s step back to one month before opening night, when the dancers first start to truly feel the pressure as they prepare physically and mentally. Here’s Episode 1, titled Pressure, with a special behind-the-scenes focus on South Africa’s own prima ballerina, Burnise Silvius.

Looking at the aspirations of up-and-coming young dancers and the unique challenges of a South African ballet company encouraging children from the townships to one day take centre stage – here’s Episode 2, Aspirations…

In Episode 3 you’ll meet soloist Nicole Ferreira-Dill and experience her joy as she learns she’s going to take on the roles of Odette and Odile for the very first time. This Episode is called Casting.

And then Episode 4, Swan Lake Production Week, shows the company in the final few days of preparations and rehearsals before opening night.

Booking details for Joburg Ballet’s Swan Lake:

Dates: Friday 17 April – Sunday 3 May 2015.
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Tickets: from R100 to R400 via JoburgTheatre.com or 0861 670 670

South African prima ballerina, Burnise Silvius, with Jonathan Rodrigues and dancers from Joburg Ballet in front of the company’s grand new sets designed by Andrew Botha. Photo by Lauge Sorensen

With an impressively large cast of over 80 dancers hailing from Cuba, China, Brazil, the United States and South Africa, Joburg Ballet is readying itself for what it claims is the “largest and grandest” production of Swan Lake South Africa has yet seen, taking place at Joburg Theatre from 17 April to 3 May 2015.

It’s a big claim that’s bound to raise the eyebrows of the competition (St Petersburg Ballet Theatre are performing Swan Lake in Johannesburg and Cape Town in May). But with Joburg Ballet’s knack for always finding innovative ways to surprise and delight, we’re rather keen to see what they’ve got hidden in those wings.

For a start, the ballet company has announced a very peculiar, but creatively enticing decision regarding their casting for the opening night. Each act will see a different leading couple perform the roles of Odette/Odile and the Prince, giving the audience an absolutely unique opportunity to enjoy the performances of the international guests as well as Joburg Ballet’s own principal dancers in sequence in one night.

While this might mess with classical purists’ sense of calm and continuity, the exposure to more dancers with their individual interpretations and style is bound to be an interesting take on a Swan Lake opening night.

Commenting on this decision, Joburg Ballet CEO Dirk Badenhorst said, “We decided to make the opening night of Swan Lake a gala event, partly to celebrate having all of our friends from around the world here dancing with us and partly to showcase everything this collaborative run will offer to the high profile audience – which includes government ministers, ambassadors and other dignitaries from South Africa, China, Cuba and the US – on the first night.”

Cuban prima ballerina Viengsay Valdes with partner José Losada performing a black swan variation at the International Ballet Gala in Johannesburg 2013. Photo by Sarah Weyman

Dancing stars from across the globe

So who are these leading dancers sharing the stage?

From Cuba, you’ll see prima ballerina Viengsay Valdés from the National Ballet of Cuba partnering with US ballet star Brooklyn Mack from The Washington Ballet, who is always a popular crowd-raising guest on the South African stage.

Miss Valdés is also a returning visitor to South Africa and gave an electric performance of the black swan during the International Ballet Gala of 2013. She’s known for her remarkable sense of balance and performed six pirouette turns leading into fouettes! See for yourself in the video below.

From China, the Liaoning Ballet’s prima ballerina, Yu Chuanya, will perform with her partner Ma Ming. And South Africa’s own prima ballerina, Joburg Ballet’s beautiful Burnise Silvius dances with the dapper Brazilian Jonathan Rodrigues. It’s the United Nations on one stage in one night.

Missed opening night? Here’s the casting for the rest of the production for you to take your pick (casting subject to change).

Casting for Joburg Ballet’s Swan Lake 2015

April 2015:

• Friday 17, 19:30: Gala Performance with Joburg Ballet stars and visiting guest stars
• Saturday 18, 15:00: Burnise Silvius (Odette-Odile), Jonathan Rodrigues (Prince)
• Saturday 18, 19:30: Nicole Ferreira-Dill (Odette), Claudia Monja (Odile), Juan Carlos Osma (Prince)
• Sunday 19, 15:00: Dancers from the Liaoning Ballet of China
• Tuesday 21, 11:00: Claudia Monja (Odette-Odile), Juan Carlos Osma (Prince) – Edutainment Performance
• Friday 24, 19:30: Viengsay Valdés (Odette-Odile), Brooklyn Mack (Prince)
• Saturday 25, 15:00: Burnise Silvius (Odette-Odile), Jonathan Rodrigues (Prince)
• Saturday 25, 19:30: Dancers from the Liaoning Ballet of China
• Sunday 26, 11:00: Kirstel Jensen (Odette-Odile), Michael Revie (Prince) – Edutainment Performance
• Sunday 26, 15:00: Viengsay Valdés (Odette-Odile), Brooklyn Mack (Prince)
• Tuesday 28, 11:00: Nicole Ferreira-Dill (Odette-Odile), Juan Carlos Osma (Prince) – Edutainment Performance

May 2015:

• Friday 1, 19:30: Burnise Silvius (Odette-Odile), Jonathan Rodrigues (Prince)
• Saturday 2, 15:00: Kirstel Jensen (Odette-Odile), Michael Revie (Prince)
• Saturday 2, 19:30: Shannon Glover (Odette-Odile), Ramiro Samón (Prince)
• Sunday 3, 15:00: Burnise Silvius (Odette-Odile), Brooklyn Mack (Prince)

Now brace yourself for this, partly because of the poor video quality, but don’t worry, the other ‘partly’ has to do with such astounding dancing that you can easily forgive the amateur footage…

Booking details:

Dates: Friday 17 April – Sunday 3 May 2015.
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Tickets: from R100 to R400 via JoburgTheatre.com or 0861 670 670

Claudia Monja and Prima Ballerina Burnise Silvius dancing in Joburg Ballet’s Swan Lake. Photo by Lauge Sorensen

Following an invitation to join the China-South Africa Year ceremonies in Beijing, Shanghai and Liaoning Province, Joburg Ballet are flying off to the People’s Republic of China this November, touring a showcase of some of their popular classical and contemporary dance works. But not before first performing their touring programme for audiences at home on 8 and 9 November 2014 from 3pm to 5pm at the Joburg Ballet Studios in Braamfontein.

Joburg Ballet describe themselves as “a world class African ballet company”, and with dancers currently performing in Denmark, Ireland, Cuba and now soon China, the company is certainly amplifying its world class reach.

You’ll be able to see Joburg Ballet’s popular showpieces in their own beautiful, light-filled dance studio, with all the behind-the-scenes action too as there’ll be no “wings” and black curtains to hide the back-stage action.

To add to the intimate studio experience, ticket holders are invited to watch the company take their warm-up class from 1pm to 2:15pm followed by delicious tea and treats before the China Tour Showcase at 3pm.

The afternoon programme will be headlined by dancer and choreographer Kitty Phetla’s contemporary version of Carmina Burana, plus extracts from the neo-classical work entitled Kopona, and pieces of pure classical sparkle from the world’s greatest ballets including the pas de deux from Don Quixote.

Event details:

Dates: Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November 2014
Programme:
1pm to 2:15pm: Watch warm-up class (optional)
2:20 to 3pm: Tea and treats
3pm to 5pm: China Tour Showcase performance
Venue: Joburg Ballet Studio 2, Joburg Theatre Complex, Hoofd Street, Braamfontein
Parking: The National School of the Arts, 17 Hoofd Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg (opposite the studios).
Tickets: R150 per person, tea included. Bookings through Edgar Moagi on 011 877 6898 or edgar@joburgballet.com