See Joburg Ballet’s principal dancers, Michael Revie and prima ballerina Burnise Silvius in Coppélia in March 2014. Photo by Suzy Bernstein.

It’s an endearing, heart-warming comedy, considered one of the great classical ballets much-loved the world over, and now Coppélia returns to the Joburg Theatre from 7 to 23 March 2014 to raise the curtain on Joburg Ballet’s opening season of 2014, and spring-load a busy year of travels and performances.

With the aim of expanding the ballet company’s reach in 2014, Joburg Ballet have announced their plans to travel with their tutus to Bloemfontein and Knysna, as well as to Gaborone in Botswana – with potentially more travel opportunities yet to be revealed. As for Coppélia, following the season-opener in Johannesburg, there will be four performances presented by PACOFS (Performing Arts Centre of the Free State) at the Sand du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein from 25 to 29 March 2014.

It’s not all classical though, and the month of March also brings us a mix of contemporary ballet with Celebration 6. If their previous Celebration 5 was anything to go by, look out for some gaspingly-good dance pieces, possibly spiced with some edgy ones too. Celebration 6 takes place at the Joburg Theatre for just two performances on Saturday 15 March and Saturday 22 March, both at 7:30pm.

Later in the year, launching their second major season, Joburg Ballet will perform La Bayadère as well as The Nutcracker. In the meantime though, here’s a look at some of the scheduled highlights (so far) for 2014:

• 14 February 2014 – Valentine’s Day performance at Hyde Park Corner, Johannesburg.
• 15 February 2014 – Open Day: Coppélia / Celebration 6, Joburg Theatre, book on 011-877 6898.
• 8 March 2014 – Friends of the Ballet: Pre-performance talk for Coppélia, Joburg Theatre.
• 7-23 March 2014 – Coppélia / Celebration 6 season, Joburg Theatre.
• 25-29 March 2014 – Coppélia, Sand du Plessis Theatre, Bloemfontein.
• 12-17 May 2014 – Joburg Ballet performs in Knysna in Aid of Hospice.
• 24-29 Jun e 2014 – Joburg Ballet performs in Gaborone, Botswana.
• 30 June-5 July 2014 – Joburg Ballet Winter School, Johannesburg.
• 23 August 2014 – Open Day: La Bayadère / The Nutcracker, Joburg Theatre, book on 011-877 6898.
• 13 September 2014 – Friends of the Ballet: Pre-performance talk for La Bayadère, Joburg Theatre.
• 8–28 September 2014 – La Bayadére / The Nutcracker season, Joburg Theatre.

Michael Revie in Coppélia by Joburg Ballet. Photo by Suzy Bernstein.

Booking Details for Coppélia, Johannesburg:

Dates: 7 – 23 March 2014Venue: The Mandela at Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg
Tickets: From R100 through JoburgTheatre.com.

Booking Details for Coppélia, Bloemfontein:

Dates: 25 – 29 March 2014
Venue: Sand du Plessis Theatre, Bloemfontein
Tickets: From R120 through PACOFS.