Back row, left to right: Seung Yeon Yang, Yuanyuan Zhang, Xu Jing Kun, Fu Yi Yang, Francois Llorente Nunez, Javier Monier, Rafael Quenedit Castro, Ramiro Samon, Mthuthuzeli November, Ga Yeon Jung.
Front row: Byul Yun, Yu Hang, Leroy Mokgatle, Lou Spichtig, Gabrielle Chock, Julia Conway.
Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing

In a breathtaking and sometimes eye-popping display of talent, technique, strength and agility, 70 dancers from the ages of 11 to 28 competed and were systematically eliminated in what dancers labelled an “intense” week at the South African International Ballet Competition, held at Artscape in Cape Town from 18 to 22 February 2014.

In what’s said to be the highest level of performance ever seen at the South African International Ballet Competition, the final few dancers went head-to-head and toe-to-pointed-toe during the finals on the Saturday night competing for the top positions, medals and a share of R370 000 in cash prizes.

Big dreams come true for young South Africans

South African Mthuthuzeli November was a big winner of the night with a gold medal and a scholarship to the Ailey School in New York City. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing.

The South Africans held their own in the competition, with Mthuthuzeli November (20 years old) – a student at the Cape Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA) in Cape Town – taking gold in the Senior contemporary section. He had also won gold in the same category in the previous 2012 competition and this highly talented young man, originally from the Zolani township outside Montagu, so enchanted the audience that competition judge Melanie Person offered November a scholarship to the prestigious Ailey School in New York, of which she is co-director.

A second Ailey scholarship was also offered to another Cape dancer, Khanya Mandongana (17) from the Cape Junior Ballet who beamed onto stage, despite striding on with crutches thanks to a foot injury sustained during his final performance.

Young star-in-the-making, Leroy Mokgatle (14) from the Art of Motion school in Johannesburg was an impressive South African competitor in the scholar division and won a gold medal in the contemporary section as well as a silver medal for his striking classical performance of Don Quixote.

14 year old Leroy Mokgatle from Johannesburg wowed the audience with his performance from Don Quixote. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing.

Tough international acts to follow

But the night belonged to China with the biggest number of medals, six in total, with five golds and one bronze medal. The star of the night was Yuanyuan Zhang (19) from China, winning a double gold for both the junior classical and junior contemporary sections. You can see her perform with her partner, Anpu Yuan (21), at the Young Ballet Stars of the World gala events in Johannesburg on 25 and 26 February 2014.

Double gold medallist in the junior category, Yuanyuan Zhang. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing.

The South Korean dancers will travel home with two golds and two silvers across the contemporary and classical sections; and following just behind the Koreans, the Cubans were awarded two golds, one silver and a bronze medal. Two medals will also travel back to the USA and one to Switzerland.

The gold medal in the men’s senior classical division went to Ramiro Samon, who along with fellow Cuban and silver medallist, Javier Monier, are both currently dancing with Joburg Ballet and can be seen in their upcoming production of Coppélia at the Joburg Theatre in Johannesburg from 7 to 23 March 2014.

Here are the full results from the 2014 South African International Ballet Competition:

Senior Classical – Girls
Gold: R25 000: Ga Yeon Jung (21), South Korea
Silver: R15 000: no medal awarded
Bronze: R10 000: no medal awarded

Senior Contemporary – Girls
Gold: R15 000: no medal awarded

Senior Classical – Boys
Gold: R25 000: Ramiro Samon (20), Cuba
Silver: R15 000: Javier Monier (21), Cuba
Bronze: R10 000: no medal awarded

Senior Contemporary – Boys
Gold: R15 000: Mthuthuzeli November (20), South Africa

Junior Classical – Girls
Gold: R20 000: Yuanyuan Zhang (19), China
Silver: R12 500: Lou Spichtig (16), Switzerland
Bronze: R7 500: Gabrielle Chock (16), USA

The senior classical gold medal went to Cuban dancer Ramiro Samon, currently dancing with Joburg Ballet. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing.

Junior Contemporary – Girls
Gold: R10 000: Yuanyuan Zhang (19), China

Junior Classical – Boys
Gold: R20 000: Rafael Quenedit Castro (17), Cuba
Silver: R12 500: Byul Yun (19), South Korea
Bronze: R7 500: Francois Llorente Nunez (18), Cuba

Junior Contemporary – Boys
Gold: R10 000: Byul Yun (19), South Korea

Scholar Classical – Girls
Gold: R7 500: Yu Hang (14), China
Silver: R5 000: Seung Yeon Yang (15), South Korea
Bronze: R2 500: Julia Conway (14), USA and Fu Yi Yang (13), China

Scholar Contemporary – Girls
Gold: R5 000: Yu Hang (14), China

Scholar  Classical– Boys
Gold: R7 500: Xu Jing Kun (13), China
Silver: R5 000: Leroy Mokgatle (14), South Africa
Bronze: R2 500: No medal awarded

Scholar Contemporary – Boys
Gold: R5 000: Leroy Mokgatle (14), South Africa

Enjoy more fantastic competition photos from the finals in Part 2 here, with a behind-the-scenes sneak peek photo gallery in Part 3 here.

Jesse Milligan and Tracy Li in Cape Town City Ballet’s recent production of Camille. Photo by Suzette Vorster

To celebrate Women’s Day, Cape Town City Ballet is busy preparing a special ballet performance called Belles of the Ballet, which will be presented at Artscape on 9 August 2013 for one performance only.

Paying tribute to famous female ballet characters with a special focus on women in love, the leading belles of Cape Town City Ballet will bring audiences “the flirtatious Carmen, heartbroken Camille and the daring Delilah”, amongst several other scenes from well-loved ballets.

Prima ballerina Tracy Li will again partner with Jesse Milligan in a pas de deux from their recent production of Camille, while Xola Putye will join Tracy for a glorious pas de deux from Spartacus.

Supported by the company’s cast of male dancers, this event will feature the talents of Cape Town City Ballet’s ballerinas, including Laura Bosenberg, Kim Vieira, Angela Hansford, Jane Fidler, Kirstel Jensen, Rosamund Ford, Elizabeth Nienaber, Mariette Opperman, and Claire Spector.

Programme highlights

Laura Bosenberg as Raymonda. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing courtesy of Cape Town City Ballet.

Cape Town’s leading female ballet choreographer, Veronica Paeper, will be honoured with extracts from her critically acclaimed Carmen, Orpheus in the Underworld, Spartacus, and Camille.

The programme will also showcase the work of other renowned South African choreographers such as David Poole, Nigel Lucas, Norman Furber and Robin van Wyk.

Following their recent run in Durban, the audience will be treated to highlights from Robin van Wyk’s Night & Day, the vibrant tribute to popular American songwriter, Cole Porter.

And for those in seek of the classical ballet repertoire, scenes from The Nutcracker, Coppelia and Raymonda will complete a beautiful afternoon at the ballet.

Booking details:

Date: 9 August 2013 at 3pm – Note that there is only one performance.
Venue: Artscape Opera House, Cape Town
Tickets: R50, R90 and R110 through Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.

Roberta Marquez as Princess Aurora. Photo by Bill Cooper courtesy of CTCB

Cape Town City Ballet has announced that two international stars from The Royal Ballet – Roberta Marquez and Nehemiah Kish – will perform in their upcoming production of The Sleeping Beauty at Artscape from 10 to 18 August 2013.

Roberta Marquez and Nehemiah Kish, both principal dancers for The Royal Ballet in Covent Garden, will grace the stage in the roles of Princess Aurora and Prince Florimund for two performances, which makes for a special scoop for Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB).

Kish was born in the USA, but has travelled the world as a guest artist in numerous ballets and special performances, including partnering Darcy Bussell at the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony. He joined The Royal Ballet in 2010 and danced principal roles such as James in La Sylphide, Romeo (Romeo & Juliet), Prince (Cinderella, The Nutcracker) and Prince Siegfried (Swan Lake).

The award-winning Marquez, originally from Brazil, has been a principal with The Royal Ballet since 2004 and has starred in roles such as Odette/Odile (Swan Lake), the title role in Cinderella, Swanhilda (Coppélia) and of course Princess Aurora from The Sleeping Beauty.

Nehemia Kish of The Royal Ballet will perform as Prince Florimund in Cape Town. Photo by Bill Cooper courtesy of CTCB.

The most iconic kiss of all time

It’s the classic romantic happily-ever-after story of the beautiful princess, an evil spell by the wicked fairy, and a kiss from her handsome prince that sets her free.

Set to the enchanting tunes of Tchaikovsky, the CTCB says they are creating an opulent production of this classic ballet with beautiful sets and costumes, and certain performances are accompanied by the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) too.

Casting of lead roles:

With Kish and Marquez dancing the lead prince and princess roles in two performances, the remaining four performances will alternate between Cape Town City Ballet’s principal dancers, Laura Bosenberg and Thomas Thorne, and with Burnise Silvius, principal dancer from South African Mzanzi Ballet, partnered by CTCB’s Trevor Schoonraad.

The Lilac Fairy will be performed by Angela Hansford, Kim Vieira and Claire Spector, while the role of the wicked fairy Carabosse will be shared by Johnny Bovang and Mervyn Williams.

• Saturday, 10 August at 19:30 (recorded music): Laura Bosenberg & Thomas Thorne
• Wednesday, 14 August at 19:30 (with CPO): Roberta Marquez & Nehemiah Kish
• Friday, 16 August at 19:30 (recorded music): Burnise Sylvius & Trevor Schoonraad
• Saturday, 17 August at 14:00 (with CPO): Laura Bosenberg & Thomas Thorne
• Saturday, 17 August at 19:30 (with CPO): Roberta Marquez & Nehemiah Kish
• Sunday, 18 August at 15:00 (with CPO): Burnise Sylvius & Trevor Schoonraad

But before you click off to book (details below), first watch the lovely Roberta Marquez in this entertaining and animated Ribbon pas de deux (with Steven McRae) from The Royal Ballet’s La fille mal gardée.

Booking details:

Dates: 10 to 18 August 2013
Venue: Artscape Opera House, Cape Town
Tickets: From R100 to R300 from Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.

Dogs share the stage with dancers at a previous Dancers Love Dogs concert. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing.

Just for a quick laugh, enjoy this short video compilation (only 2 minutes 23 seconds) of some of the most incredible salsa and merengue dancing dogs.

Of course, if you’re in Cape Town on Saturday 25 May 2013, you could see some more smart and sassy dancing doggies as part of a variety of professional dance acts (mostly including the human kind) at the Dancers Love Dogs concert at Artscape Theatre.

You’ll find all the charity concert details here, which will include performances by Cape Town City Ballet and Bovim Ballet.

But for now, share a few giggles with this video. Rumour has it that it took the golden retreiver a year to teach her partner this dance…

They’re all collaborating towards the mass sterilization of dogs in and around Cape Town’s rural areas and townships, where this treatment is sorely needed but sadly unaffordable, leading to too many pups without a home, or food, or a loving cuddle.

Helping homeless doggies in need

After rescuing one too many starved strays and lost dogs, Brigitte Reeve-Taylor, a local dance teacher and choreographer, decided to make a difference by combining her love for dogs with her love of dance.

Since 2012, her Dancers Love Dogs concerts have spread to Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban and the events have cumulatively raised over R290 000.00, which has allowed for more than 1500 animals to be safely sterilised. Dancers Love Dogs has also been registered as a non-profit organisaton, securing its important official NPO status.

Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing courtesy of Dancers Love Dogs.

Charity concert line-up

This once-off performance will showcase works by Cape Town City Ballet, Cape Junior Ballet, Bovim Ballet, Ikapa Dance Theatre, Waterfront Theatre School, Zip Zap, Martin Schonberg, the Eoan Dance Group and Adele Blank. Special guests include Dancing With Dogs Cape Town, a quartet of four women who perform with their dogs, all of which have been rescued and nurtured back to wholeness by their trainers. The MC will be the spectacular Lillyslappedsilly from Mince fame.

All the performers have generously donated their time and skills without charge and Artscape has also offered the venue at a reduced rate. In addition, a raffle will also be held on the night with great prizes to be won, donated by several generous sponsors. All the proceeds of the event will go towards the venue hiring fee and the costs of sterilising dogs.

Event details + bonus puppy love:

Date: Saturday 25 May 2013 at 8:00 pm
Venue: Artscape Opera House, Cape Town
Tickets: R250 per person (the exact cost of one sterilisation) via Computicket

Want to help or make a donation to this pawsome cause? Contact Brigitte on m2m@mweb.co.za or via the donated website or on Facebook.

But before you go clicking away, first get a good dose of “aaaaah cute” when you watch this video of poster pup Vivi and how her ballerina dreams came true.

Set to over 20 of Elvis’ greatest hits, Sean Bovim has Cape Town audiences all shook up with his latest ballet creation. It’s only on at the Artscape Theatre until 7 April 2013, so get your tickets and read more about it here.

Action Satisfaction

While seeing all these blue suede (and shiny pointe) shoes, I’m certainly feeling blue that I couldn’t be in Cape Town to see the dance action first-hand, but at least we get to enjoy it in freeze-frame…

Click on an image to open the gallery.

Dancers rehearsing for Private Presley. Photo by Bev Simpson-Hurst courtesy of Bovim Ballet

Here’s a fun interview with four dancers from the cast of Private Presley, appearing on SABC 3’s The Expresso Show.

Get an insight into the making of the ballet, the characters, the dress-rehearsal drama (like last-minute injuries, yikes!) and the athleticism required to pull off this show.

Bovim Ballet’s Private Presley is on stage at Artscape Theatre in Cape Town from 27 March to 7 April, featuring over 20 of Elvis Presley’s hit songs. Tickets range from R150 to R220 through Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.

And here’s the second video with that cheeky little duet to Elvis’ Teddy Bear, performed by Steven Van Wyk and Zandile Constable on the Expresso Show’s balcony, overlooking the sunrise on Cape Town’s CBD.

One of Cape Town’s favourite ballerina’s, Tracy Li, returns to the stage as Camille. Photo courtesy of Cape Town City Ballet. Photographer: Pat Bromilow Downing

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 19th century novel The Lady of the Camellias by Alexander Dumas, the parental interference causes heart-breaking consequences for the two lovers, Armand and Camille.

Due to its dramatic intrigue and touching storyline, the novel was first adapted as a stage play. Then following the play’s success, Giuseppe Verdi set the story to music with his opera, La Traviata, in 1853.

Made famous by Fonteyn and Nureyev

Perhaps the most famous ballet version of the story was a 1963 adaptation created specifically for Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. Read more about the fascinating background story for this ballet Marguerite and Armand here, or watch them in action with this video.

The return of Tracy Li

The forthcoming season of Camille is choreographed by Veronica Paeper. It was written in 1990 and last seen in Cape Town in 2007, a season which marked the last performance of the company’s celebrated partnership of the time, Tracy Li and Daniel Rajna, in the roles of Camille and Armand.

After a six year break from the stage, Tracy Li returns to renew her role of Camille, partnering with the young Jesse Milligan.

Other casts of Camille are Laura Bosenberg and Kim Vieira, while Armand is danced by Thomas Thorne and Daniel Szybkowski. The role of Monsieur Germont, Armand’s father, is performed by Johnny Bovang, previously the company’s danseur noble.

Verdi by the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra

The ballet is danced to Verdi’s La Traviata score, arranged by Allan Stephenson who will also personally conduct the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) where they accompany the Cape Town City Ballet at selected performances (see casting).

Laura Bosenberg and Thomas Thorne in Camille. Photo courtesy of Cape Town City Ballet. Photographer: Kirstel Jensen

Casting:

• Thursday  2 May, 19:30 (with CPO):
  Laura Bosenberg & Thomas Thorne
• Saturday 4 May, 14:00 (with CPO):
  Kim Vieira & Daniel Szybkowski
• Saturday 4 May, 19:30 (with CPO):
  Tracy Li & Jesse Milligan
• Wednesday 4 May, 19:30 (with CPO):
  Laura Bosenberg & Thomas Thorne
• Friday 10 May, 19:30 (recorded music):
  Kim Vieira & Daniel Szybkowski
• Saturday 11 May, 14:00 (with CPO):
  Tracy Li & Jesse Milligan
• Saturday 11 May, 19:30 (with CPO):
  Laura Bosenberg & Thomas Thorne
• Sunday 12 May, 15:00 (recorded music):
  Kim Vieira & Daniel Szybkowski

Booking details:

Dates: 2 to 12 May, 2013
Venue: Artscape Opera House, Cape Town
Tickets: from R100 to R280 from Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.

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.