Dancers from Joburg Ballet rehearsng Belinda Nusser’s new piece, called The Deep and Lovely Quiet. Photo by Bill Zurich.

Coming to both Johannesburg and Cape Town, the newly renamed Joburg Ballet (previously South African Mzansi Ballet) is collaborating with a leading Colombian dance company to bring audiences a showcase of classical and contemporary dance.

Starting on 20 September 2013, at the Joburg Theatre, audiences will see new works by South African choreographers – Belinda Nusser, Kitty Phetla and Shannon Glover – along with special pieces by Álvaro Restrepo, performed by the professional dancers from his Colombian company, El Colegio Del Cuerpo (The School of the Body) and dancers from Joburg Ballet.

For an inspiring and insightful insight into Restrepo’s School of the Body and its dancers, watch this short feature on the school in this episode of ArtsWorld from AlJazeera TV.

Coming up in the Celebration 5 programme…

Starting off the show will be a piece called The Deep and Lovely Quiet by Belinda Nusser. The ex-Joburg and now European-based Nusser explains her piece with these questions: “Does the feeling of belonging to a group make it any less lonely? How far does loneliness go, and where we can we find our peace?” Performed by 11 dancers from Joburg Ballet, they’ll explore the social interactions we experience in daily life and the monotony of them, but also the impact of group power and the strength that comes out of work in unison.

European-based South African choreographer, Belinda Nusser, as she works with dancers at their Joburg Ballet studios. Photo by Bill Zurich.

Talking of strength, Shannon Glover revealed at a recent choreographic discussion that her work – called Use Somebody – is all about strength, saying that the men in the Joburg Ballet company are so strong that she’s allowed them to dominate the stage. Sounds like we can expect some powerful jumps and impressive macho dancing.

Celebration 5 will also see Kitty Phetla premiere her new piece, called I am. At the same choreographic discussion, she confidently admitted that she’s “a very abstract choreographer” and likes to work with the “educated body”. Considering Phetla’s strong choreographic experience, her work with the very educated bodies of the Joburg Ballet dancers should create something rather special.

But when it comes to special moments, one of the much anticipated highlights of the production will be the work by the Colombian Álvaro Restrepo. Having watched him in action, Restrepo has a very grounded, humble, yet also spiritual approach to his work, which creates pure magic in movement. There’s also a deep sincerity and a depth of meaning to the man that seems to percolate through his wonderfully talented dancers.

These seven dancers will perform Romanian Dances, and will then join forces with 13 Joburg Ballet dancers to perform God-by-the-sea, which Restrepo says is in part a contemplative tribute to the memory of his sister, who died tragically 13 years ago.

But for those who can’t go to the ballet without actually seeing some classical ballet, you’ll be in for a treat with a pas de deux from The Flower Festival at Ganzano. It’s an enchanting Danish piece, which has not been seen on the Johannesburg stage for many years. The programme also includes a classical pas de deux from Act 1 of the ballet Le Corsaire.

Booking details – Johannesburg:

Dates: Friday 20 September at 19:30; Saturday 21 September at 19:30; Saturday 28 September at 19:30.
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg
Tickets: From R189 to R336 from www.joburgtheatre.com

Booking details – Cape Town:

Dates: Tuesday 24 September at 19:30; Wednesday 25 September at 19:30.
Venue: Joseph Stone Auditorium, Athlone, Cape Town
Tickets: R150 (or R120 for children under 12) from Computicket

Dancer interviews about Celebration 5 and Cinderella

See Joburg Ballet’s Nicole Ferreira and Michael Revie as they talk on Ballz Radio about both Celebration 5 and their current production of Cinderella.

Fairy-tale dreams with Shannon Glover and Jonathan Rodrigues in SAMB’s all-new Cinderella. Photo by Bill Zurich.

Johannesburg audiences will have a choice of four ballerinas alternating in the title role of South African Mzansi Ballet’s all-new production of Cinderella, which opens on Friday 13 September 2013 at the Joburg Theatre.

SAMB’s principal dancers, Burnise Silvius and Michael Revie. Photo by Bill Zurich.

Won, two, three, four…

Across this 11-performance season, the local SAMB stars – Burnise Silvius, Shannon Glover and Lindé Wessels – will share Cinderella’s magical coach with international guest dancer, Jin Ho Won from South Korea. (Read more about Won here: Gold medalist guest ballerina arrives in SA.)

The source of the magic in the story, Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, will be danced by Nicole Ferreira, Lindé Wessels, Sanmarie Kreuzhuber, Claudia Monja and Kitty Phetla; while the dashing Prince Charming will be danced by Jonathan Rodrigues, Michael Revie and Ramiro Samón.

Providing the comic flamboyance to the story, Cinderella’s two Ugly Sisters will be pranced, ahem, I mean danced by men, with Luis de Castro, Chase Bosch, Javier Monier, Carlos Santos, Keke Chele and Randol Figueredo getting their drag on in alternating performances.

And adding the high jinks (and high jumps) will be the Jesters danced by Javier Monier, Randol Figueredo, Luis de Castro and Chase Bosch.

Casting Summary

Here’s the quick casting guide for Cinderella and her Prince:

• 

  See visiting star, South Korean Jin Ho Won as Cinderella. Photo courtesy of SAMB.

  Friday 13 September at 19:30: Burnise Silvius & Jonathan Rodrigues

• Saturday 14 September at 15:00: Jin Ho Won & Michael Revie
• Saturday 14 September at 19:30: Lindé Wessels & Jonathan Rodrigues
• Sunday 15 September at 11:00: Shannon Glover & Ramiro Samón
• Sunday 15 September at 15:00: Jin Ho Won & Michael Revie
• Tuesday 17 September at 11:00: Lindé Wessels & Jonathan Rodrigues (School Performance)
• Saturday 21 September at 15:00: Shannon Glover & Ramiro Samón
• Sunday 22 September at 15:00: Burnise Silvius & Jonathan Rodrigues
• Friday 27 September at 19:30: Jin Ho Won & Michael Revie
• Saturday 28 September at 15:00: Shannon Glover & Ramiro Samón
• Sunday 29 September at 15:00: Burnise Silvius & Michael Revie

Cinderella booking details:

Dates: 13 to 29 September 2013
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg
Tickets: From R189 to R336 from www.joburgtheatre.com