Revil Yon, Tusile Tenza and Milwhynne Williams perform in an excerpt from Robin van Wyk’s Italian Affair. Photo by Jacques Conradie.

Cape Town City Ballet are mixing up the festive mood with their lively and fun-filled performances of Belles & Beaux from Friday 20 December to Sunday 22 December 2013 at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town.

In a selection of favourite scenes from across various well-loved ballets, the ballet company will show off their ballerinas and danseurs in this sparkling holiday season show.

Some of the highlights include (and see the photo gallery below for a sneak peak):

• Excerpts from Robin van Wyk’s 2011 hit ballet The Italian Affair.
• Two of Cape Town audiences’ favourite dancers Mervyn Williams and Johnny Bovang will display their comic skills in The Waltz from the one act ballet, Graduation Ball, choreographed by Russian choreographer David Lachine.
• Scenes from the second act of Veronica Paeper’s Spartacus will be included in the programme, set to the emotive music by Aram Khachaturian.
• From the classical repertoire dance lovers will be treated to scenes from Diane & Acteon, La Bayedere and Scheherazade, amongst others.
• The Competition is a new piece specially choreographed for the male dancers of the company to show off their expertise. This has been created by Mervyn Williams, who has been with Cape Town City Ballet for 27 years – first as a dancer, now as a character dancer, coordinator of the costume wardrobe and involved with CTCB’s outreach programmes.
• Another showcase for the male dancers will be The Trepak from The Nutcracker, by David Poole.
• The programme will end with delightful and humorous scenes from the third act of Orpheus in the Underworld, the ballet by Veronica Paeper. Set in Pluto’s Night Club, the Mafia and Caliope strut their stuff, while a bevy of Cape Town City Ballet’s gorgeous girls will end the programme with the Can Can.

Belles & Beaux Booking details:

Dates: 18 – 22 December 2013
Venue: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
Tickets: from R125 to R220 and children (6 to 16 years) at R50 through Computicket.

Starting with The Tin Soldier from 11 to 24 December, we’ll get to unwrap a fresh new ballet creation based on Hans Christian Andersen’s magical storybook, The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Rabbit Ears Storybook Classics)

Choreographed by Cape Town City Ballet’s artistic director, Robin van Wyk, this ballet tells the story of a toy tin soldier’s love for a paper ballerina. Set to the music of Alexander Glazunov, the score will be performed by the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra for all but two performances (recorded music will be used for the shows on Friday 13 December at 11:00 and Tuesday 24 December at 14:00).

Overlapping with The Tin Soldier, from 18 to 22 December, the ballet company will present Belles and Beaux of the Ballet, which will include a selection of beautiful scenes from well-loved ballets, where Cape Town City Ballet’s star ballerinas and danseurs will perform some of the most enticing roles in the ballet repertoire.

Following this, from 31 December 2013 to 11 January 2014, comes the entertaining and popular production of Night & Day – the ballet tribute to the legendary songwriter, Cole Porter, featuring his memorable tunes and danced with a combination of ballet, jazz, tap dance and cabaret. Read more about Night & Day here, including a fun video with Robbie Williams’ take on Cole Porter too.

A bit of fun for everyone

Commenting on this bumper ballet programme, Cape Town City Ballet’s artistic executive, Keith Mackintosh says:

“I guess the idea is to create a summer festival of ballets, offering our regular audiences, together with visitors both local and international coming into Cape Town at that time of the year, the opportunity of a variety of works while at the same time demonstrating the versatility of the company and its dancers.”

Booking details:

The Tin Soldier
Dates: 11 – 24 December 2013
Venue: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
Tickets: from R125 to R225 and children (6 to 16 years) at R50 through Computicket.

Belles and Beaux of the Ballet
Dates: 18 – 22 December 2013
Venue: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
Tickets: from R125 to R220 and children (6 to 16 years) at R50 through Computicket.

Night & Day
Dates: 30 December 2013 – 11 January 2014
Venue: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
Tickets: R250 or children (6 to 16 years) at R50 through Computicket.

Special Discounts:

• Block Bookings of 10 or more: R10 off ticket price.
• 2 Show Combo (The Tin Soldier and Belles and Beaux of the Ballet OR The Tin Soldier and Night & Day): 10% off ticket price.
• 3 Show Combo (The Tin Soldier, Belles and Beaux of the Ballet and Night & Day): 10% off ticket price