Private Presley – Rock-‘n-Roll ballet pays tribute to the king
Love me tender – rehearsing Private Presley. Photo by Bev Simpson-Hurst courtesy of Bovim Ballet
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, with more than a touch of 1950s nostalgia at the Artscape Theatre from 27 March to 7 April.
“Not only did this era bring out the most explosive dance styles of the 20th century, but also gave us Presley’s inspirational and intuitive ballads which pull at the heart strings of all who loved the enigmatic Elvis and his pioneering music,” says Bovim, choreographer and artistic director.
A little less conversation – and a whole lot of concentration during rehearsals for Private Presley. Photo by Bev Simpson-Hurst courtesy of Bovim Ballet
All shook up – peek into Elvis’ private life
Private Presley portrays the memorable moments from the rise of one of Rock ‘n Roll’s greatest legends from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. These include Elvis’ romance and marriage to Priscilla Presley as well as his liaisons with women such as Nathalie Wood, Juliet Prowse (raised in South Africa), and his camaraderie with the Memphis Mafia. The ballet looks at Elvis’ private life, as well as his time in the US Army as a drafted soldier.
The cast includes Henk Opperman (Freddie Mercury in Queen at the Ballet and winner of Dans Dans Dans), Devon Marshbank (signed to Universal Music), Tanya Futter (African Footprint), Nicola Van der Merwe (Lead in Queen at the Ballet), Steven Van Wyk (MasterTime in Queen at the Ballet, Dirty Dancing), Faye Dubinski (Lead in Queen at the Ballet), James Bradley (Beauty and the Beast, African Footprint), LLewellyn Mnguni, Elzanne Crause (Phantom of the Opera), Louisa Talbot (High School Musical), Zandile Constable, Sven-Eric Müller (Waterfront Theatre School Graduate), Ché Milani, Ipeleng Merafe, Simoné Botha (Miss Deaf SA), Grant Van Ster, JV Mattei, Megan Black, Martin Harding, Cindy Okkers and Mbulelo Ngubombini.
International and renowned collaborators
Top International fashion designers Craig Port, Ian West, KLÛK & CGDT were invited to create brand new costumes for the work. Set design is by Ulrich Binedell and lighting design by the highly experienced and award-winning Faheem Bardien.
Booking details:
Dates: 27 March to 7 April 2013
Venue: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
Tickets: from R150 to R220 through Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695
All the shows are at 8pm, except Sunday 31 March and Sunday 7 April at 3pm.
Thank you, thank you very much
Turn up the volume and get your toes tapping with this fantastically fun video, taken from Elvis’ 1957 movie, Jailhouse Rock.
Category: Dance News
