Geneva Ballet presents two works, Lux and Glory, for the first time in Cape Town. Photo by Gregory Batardon

For the first time in Cape Town and for three performances only, the Geneva Ballet will present what they call “two exceptional and contrasted works”, Lux and Glory on 8, 9 and 10 July 2014 at Artscape Theatre.

Under the direction of Philippe Cohen, this acclaimed Swiss company is considered one of the most original and inventive dance companies in Europe, with a repertoire that ranges from classical ballet to neoclassical and contemporary, including fresh new collaborations and artistic interpretations of classical ballet.

Geneva Ballet will perform alongside Cape Town City Ballet’s July season of Ballet Beautiful, which runs from 4 to 12 July 2014 at Artscape Theatre.

Created by Swiss choreographer Ken Ossola, and danced to the transcendent beauty of Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, Lux uses sculpted shadow play to enhance the delicate nature of the body.

Glory, which premièred on 4 February 2012 in Geneva, is the third piece that choreographer Andonis Foniadakis was commissioned to create for Geneva Ballet. Glory is set to 16 excerpts from George Frideric Handel’s greatest music and the company describes it as “a work of great aesthetic value, a symbiotic intertwining of fluidity and tension, expansive expression and introverted reserve”.

For a glorious glimpse of what to expect, watch excerpts from Glory with this great little video compilation by choreographer Andonis Foniadakis…

Booking details:

Dates: 8, 9 and 10 July at 19:30.
Venue: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
Tickets: From R200 to R280, and R150 for students via Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.

From left to right: Elizabeth Nienaber, Bradley van Heerden, Kim Vieira, Daniel Szybkowski, Laura Bösenberg, Angela Hansford, Rosamund Ford and Thomas Thorne. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing

In the midst of Cape Town City Ballet’s 80 anniversary celebrations, there are now even more celebratory ching-chings to be had as the company recently announced eight promotions within the company. The dancers who have received promotions are Elizabeth Nienaber, Bradley van Heerden, Kim Vieira, Daniel Szybkowski, Laura Bösenberg, Angela Hansford, Rosamund Ford and Thomas Thorne.

Moving up from Principal Dancers to Senior Principal Dancers are Laura Bösenberg, Thomas Thorne and Kim Vieira, while Angela Hansford has been promoted to Principal Dancer, and Daniel Szybkwoski is now a Senior Soloist. Elizabeth Nienaber and Rosamund Ford have both been promoted to Soloists and Bradley van Heerden to Senior Artist.

Congrats lovely dancers!

See these dancers starring in their upcoming mid-year production called Ballet Beautiful, at Artscape Theatre from 4 to 12 July 2014.

Booking Details for Ballet Beautiful:

Dates: Friday 4 July 2014 at 19:30;
Saturday 5 July 2014 at 14:00 and 19:30;
Sunday 6 July 2014 at 15:00;
Friday 11 July 2014 at 19:30;
Saturday 12 July 2014 at 14:00 and 19:30.
Venue: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
Tickets: from R150 to R175 via Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.

Daniel Szybkowski and Angela Hansford in Robin van Wyk’s new pas de deux ‘The Fragile Balance’. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing.

As their 80th anniversary celebrations continue, Cape Town City Ballet are rehearsing for their July ballet season, which includes a mix of classical, neo-classical and contemporary works in a programme called Ballet Beautiful – on at the Artscape Theatre from 4 to 12 July 2014.

The programme looks set to show off the company’s versatility with a challenging classical piece from the beautiful Paquita, to the two new and contemporary ballets by young South African choreographers, Kirsten Isenberg and Yarisha Singh, as well as a new pas de deux by CTCB’s Artistic Director, Robin van Wyk.

Laura Bosenberg and Thomas Thorne in ‘Of Gods and Men’. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing

Classical technique and beauty

The incomparable combination of music by Ludwig Minkus and choreography by Marius Petipa makes Paquita – particularly Paquita’s Grand Pas Classique – one of the essential classical works in the repertoire of ballet companies around the world. In Ballet Beautiful, Cape Town City Ballet will perform the much-loved divertissements from the final act.

Contemporary expression and versatility

As for the brand new ballet pieces, Cape Town City Ballet commissioned Isenberg and Singh, both UCT School of Dance graduates, to create new works for the company as part of their policy to foster and support local creative talent.

Kirsten Isenberg’s piece, called Of Gods and Men, is a neo-classical work “depicting the mythological struggle between gods and man, illustrating how their strengths and weaknesses ultimately result in their equality”. In Yarisha Singh’s contemporary style ballet, Serendipity, the piece follows less of a storyline but affords the audience more opportunity to make their own associations and discoveries.

Mark Goldberg & Frieda Mennen in Serendipity. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing.

CTCB’s own Robin van Wyk will reveal his newly-choreographed pas de deux called The Fragile Balance, inspired by the poem of the same name by Arokuara (read the poem here) and set to the music of Max Bruch’s famous violin concerto (scroll down for the video of a fabulous live performance – of the music, not the pas de deux).

As an extra treat, one of Cape Town City Ballet’s outreach partners, ZAMA Dance School, will perform Uvuyo (Celebrate) by the renowned South African choreographer Adele Blank as the curtain-raiser performance.

Booking Details:

Dates: Friday 4 July 2014 at 19:30;
Saturday 5 July 2014 at 14:00 and 19:30;
Sunday 6 July 2014 at 15:00;
Friday 11 July 2014 at 19:30;
Saturday 12 July 2014 at 14:00 and 19:30.
Venue: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
Tickets: from R150 to R175 via Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.

Are you curious about that “famous” violin concerto? I was too and couldn’t help myself with a little YouTube search. This is what I found: enjoy this video of Joshua Bell performing the first movement from Max Bruch’s violin concerto no. 1 in G minor…