Cuban-born dancers, Claudia Monja and Juan Carlos Osma perform their debut leading roles as Kitri and Basilio. Photo by Lauge Sorensen

Don Quixote is known to be one of the most lively, big, bold and vibrant ballets, and we should be expecting exciting things from Joburg Ballet who love to snatch every opportunity to show off their virtuoso skills. Don Quixote opens at the Joburg Theatre tonight, 28 August, and runs until 13 September 2015, but with a few surprises in the casting.

Ramiro Samón was quite literally the poster boy in the company’s advertising for their previous production of Don Quixote.

One sad farewell and some happy hellos

Regular Joburg Ballet fans will notice from the casting below that one of their favourite virtuoso dancers is missing from the line-up.

For all those watching his growth over the last few years, Ramiro Samón has been a strong and steady rising star, winning a gold medal at the 2014 South African International Ballet Competition and consistently wowing audiences with his tremendous strength – I mean those cabrioles of his were just ridiculous, see it in the video here!

There was an almost tangible sense about him that he would never settle for less than technical perfection. And perhaps because of that, he’s been offered a wonderful opportunity with a contract in Toulouse and Joburg Ballet has wished him a sad, but very warm farewell for his adventures ahead. Chukkas, Ramiro!

But of course, Joburg Ballet has no shortage of very strong male lead dancers. In fact, for the first time during their previous season of Swan Lake, they had more lead male dancers than lead role openings.

To add to this, the company has also invited two exciting guest artists to join the season. Returning to South Africa, popular guests, Aaron Smyth from Australia and Jonhal Fernández from the National Ballet of Ecuador will alternately perform in the lead roles partnered with Joburg Ballet’s own prima ballerina, Burnise Silvius, who will in turn also have one performance with Joburg Ballet’s Randol Figueredo.

Jonhal Fernández from the National Ballet of Ecuador will be performing as a guest artist with Joburg Ballet’s Burnise Silvius.

From injuries to special moment debuts

While Jonathan Rodrigues – another of Joburg Ballet’s popular lead males – has been recovering following an injury (and fans will be happy to know that he’s now almost 100% recovered), this has opened the opportunity for the tall Cuban dancer, Juan Carlos Osma, to mark his debut as the dashing Basilio. He will partner with fellow Cuban, Claudia Monja, who will headline the opening night in her first ever performance in the role of Kitri.

Principal dancers Shannon Glover and Michael Revie will also perform as the leading Spanish lovers. And among other roles in the production, Mercedes will be danced by Burnise Silvius, Claudia Monja, Nicole Ferreira-Dill and Kirstel Jensen, while the toreador Espada will be danced by Aaron Smyth, Juan Carlos Osma, Jonathan Rodrigues and Michael Revie.

Casting for Joburg Ballet’s Don Quixote 2015:

For the roles of Kitri, Basilio, Mercedes, Espada, Amour and Queen of the Dryads. Casting subject to change.

• Fri 28 Aug 19:30: Monja, Osma, Silvius, Smyth, Acuna, Ferreira-Dill
• Sat 29 Aug 15:00: Silvius, Smyth, Monja, Osma, Dewey, Ferreira-Dill
• Sun 30 Aug 15:00: Glover, Revie, Ferreira-Dill, Rodrigues, Acuna, Monja
• Tue 1 Sep 11:00: Silvius, Figueredo, Jensen, Revie, Gerber, Glover
• Sat 5 Sep 15:00: Monja, Osma, Glover, Revie, Gerber, Ferreira-Dill
• Sun 6 Sep 15:00: Silvius, Smyth, Phetla, Osma, Jensen, Glover
• Fri 11 Sep 19:30: Glover, Revie, Ferreira-Dill, Rodrigues, Dewey, Monja
• Sat 12 Sep 15:00: Silvius, Fernandez, Monja, Osma, Jensen, Monja
• Sun 13 Sep 15:00: Monja, Osma, Glover, Smyth, Acuna, Ferreira-Dill

To whet your appetite for this Spanish feast, here’s a sneak peek video compilation filmed by Lauge Sorensen at this week’s dress rehearsal:

Don Quixote at Joburg Theatre from Lauge Sorensen on Vimeo.

Booking details:

Dates: Friday 28 August – Sunday 13 September 2015.
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Tickets: from R100 to R400 via JoburgTheatre.com or 0861 670 670

Joburg Ballet’s prima ballerina Burnise Silvius will perform the pas de deux with Ramiro Samon from the dazzling Don Quixote. Photo by Susanne Holbaek

For three performances only, Joburg Ballet are visiting a new venue with a shorter one-hour programme at a smaller price-point, aiming to take the best ballet highlights to more people. And with an impressive sounding line-up of popular dance pieces, you might want to take up the opportunity too at the Roodepoort Theatre this weekend on 10 and 11 July.

The company’s prima ballerina, Burnise Silvius, will perform the Don Quixote Pas de Deux partnered by Ramiro Samón from Cuba, who was last year’s SA International Ballet Competition gold medal winner (see the video below). Alternating these roles will be principal dancers Shannon Glover and Michael Revie.

Javier Monier in a virtuoso performance of Diana and Acteon. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing

Other classical ballet pas de deux include The Flames of Paris with Shana Dewey and Ramiro Samón, Satanella with Dayana Acuna and Javier Monier, and Diana and Acteon where Burnise Silvius and Ramiro Samón will share the roles with Dayana Acuna and Javier Monier.

Along with highlights from Swan Lake, La Sylphide and La Bayadère, there will also be two romantic short ballets by artistic director Iain MacDonald, including one danced to Strauss’ Blue Danube Waltz – one of the most famous pieces of music in the world.

But it’s not all about the classics, rounding off the programme are three items with South African music, choreography or themes: Gauteng to music by Miriam Makeba, Jantjie to music by Anton Goosen, and Fearless by young SA choreographer, John Tsunke.

And if you still need a little more convincing, watch this short video of the powerful, controlled performance that helped win the gold medal for Ramiro Samón. This was his Satanella variation at the 2014 South African International Ballet Competition.

Booking details:

Dates: Friday 10 July 2015 at 8pm; Saturday 11 July 2015 at 3pm and 8pm
Venue: Roodepoort City Theatre, Roodepoort (you’ll find the directions here)
Tickets: R140 to R170 from www.roodepoorttheatre.com or phone 0861 670 670.

South African prima ballerina, Burnise Silvius, with Jonathan Rodrigues and dancers from Joburg Ballet in front of the company’s grand new sets designed by Andrew Botha. Photo by Lauge Sorensen

With an impressively large cast of over 80 dancers hailing from Cuba, China, Brazil, the United States and South Africa, Joburg Ballet is readying itself for what it claims is the “largest and grandest” production of Swan Lake South Africa has yet seen, taking place at Joburg Theatre from 17 April to 3 May 2015.

It’s a big claim that’s bound to raise the eyebrows of the competition (St Petersburg Ballet Theatre are performing Swan Lake in Johannesburg and Cape Town in May). But with Joburg Ballet’s knack for always finding innovative ways to surprise and delight, we’re rather keen to see what they’ve got hidden in those wings.

For a start, the ballet company has announced a very peculiar, but creatively enticing decision regarding their casting for the opening night. Each act will see a different leading couple perform the roles of Odette/Odile and the Prince, giving the audience an absolutely unique opportunity to enjoy the performances of the international guests as well as Joburg Ballet’s own principal dancers in sequence in one night.

While this might mess with classical purists’ sense of calm and continuity, the exposure to more dancers with their individual interpretations and style is bound to be an interesting take on a Swan Lake opening night.

Commenting on this decision, Joburg Ballet CEO Dirk Badenhorst said, “We decided to make the opening night of Swan Lake a gala event, partly to celebrate having all of our friends from around the world here dancing with us and partly to showcase everything this collaborative run will offer to the high profile audience – which includes government ministers, ambassadors and other dignitaries from South Africa, China, Cuba and the US – on the first night.”

Cuban prima ballerina Viengsay Valdes with partner José Losada performing a black swan variation at the International Ballet Gala in Johannesburg 2013. Photo by Sarah Weyman

Dancing stars from across the globe

So who are these leading dancers sharing the stage?

From Cuba, you’ll see prima ballerina Viengsay Valdés from the National Ballet of Cuba partnering with US ballet star Brooklyn Mack from The Washington Ballet, who is always a popular crowd-raising guest on the South African stage.

Miss Valdés is also a returning visitor to South Africa and gave an electric performance of the black swan during the International Ballet Gala of 2013. She’s known for her remarkable sense of balance and performed six pirouette turns leading into fouettes! See for yourself in the video below.

From China, the Liaoning Ballet’s prima ballerina, Yu Chuanya, will perform with her partner Ma Ming. And South Africa’s own prima ballerina, Joburg Ballet’s beautiful Burnise Silvius dances with the dapper Brazilian Jonathan Rodrigues. It’s the United Nations on one stage in one night.

Missed opening night? Here’s the casting for the rest of the production for you to take your pick (casting subject to change).

Casting for Joburg Ballet’s Swan Lake 2015

April 2015:

• Friday 17, 19:30: Gala Performance with Joburg Ballet stars and visiting guest stars
• Saturday 18, 15:00: Burnise Silvius (Odette-Odile), Jonathan Rodrigues (Prince)
• Saturday 18, 19:30: Nicole Ferreira-Dill (Odette), Claudia Monja (Odile), Juan Carlos Osma (Prince)
• Sunday 19, 15:00: Dancers from the Liaoning Ballet of China
• Tuesday 21, 11:00: Claudia Monja (Odette-Odile), Juan Carlos Osma (Prince) – Edutainment Performance
• Friday 24, 19:30: Viengsay Valdés (Odette-Odile), Brooklyn Mack (Prince)
• Saturday 25, 15:00: Burnise Silvius (Odette-Odile), Jonathan Rodrigues (Prince)
• Saturday 25, 19:30: Dancers from the Liaoning Ballet of China
• Sunday 26, 11:00: Kirstel Jensen (Odette-Odile), Michael Revie (Prince) – Edutainment Performance
• Sunday 26, 15:00: Viengsay Valdés (Odette-Odile), Brooklyn Mack (Prince)
• Tuesday 28, 11:00: Nicole Ferreira-Dill (Odette-Odile), Juan Carlos Osma (Prince) – Edutainment Performance

May 2015:

• Friday 1, 19:30: Burnise Silvius (Odette-Odile), Jonathan Rodrigues (Prince)
• Saturday 2, 15:00: Kirstel Jensen (Odette-Odile), Michael Revie (Prince)
• Saturday 2, 19:30: Shannon Glover (Odette-Odile), Ramiro Samón (Prince)
• Sunday 3, 15:00: Burnise Silvius (Odette-Odile), Brooklyn Mack (Prince)

Now brace yourself for this, partly because of the poor video quality, but don’t worry, the other ‘partly’ has to do with such astounding dancing that you can easily forgive the amateur footage…

Booking details:

Dates: Friday 17 April – Sunday 3 May 2015.
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Tickets: from R100 to R400 via JoburgTheatre.com or 0861 670 670

The Nutcracker set in the Kalahari Desert? You’ll have to see it to believe it. Photo by Susanne Holbaek

It’s the Nutcracker, but re-told in an African way and re-styled with a local-is-lekker flair. While still set to the beautiful effervescent music of Tchaikovsky, Joburg Ballet’s all new The Nutcracker Re-Imagined switches the usual snowy northern Christmas scenes for such sunny African settings as the Kalahari, complete with gumboots and Namaqua daisies.

Running as part of a double season alongside the company’s first staging of La Bayadère, The Nutcracker Re-Imagined is on at the Joburg Theatre from 12 to 27 September 2014 with staging by Adèle Blank, sets by Andrew Botha and even circus tricks designed specifically for Joburg Ballet by SircuSynergy.

Ballet dancers can jump, but can they stomp? Joburg Ballet’s gum boot dancers show us how. Photo by Susanne Holbaek

Same traditional storyline with some fresh new characters

While it may not be ballet tradition for The Nutcracker, a sangoma is very traditional and a completely appropriate South African replacement for the mysterious, magical and more familiar Dr Drosselmeyer character. Kitty Phetla and Sanmarie Kreuzhuber will perform as the Sangoma at alternating performances during the 5-performance season.

Clara, the young girl who receives a nutcracker doll and whose dream-world journey weaves the story of The Nutcracker Re-Imagined, will be shared by senior soloist Angela Revie, senior corps dancer Jessica Overton and Olivia Parfitt, who recently joined Joburg Ballet directly from two years at the National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto.

The characters of the Moon and the Sun, who in this production perform the Grand Pas De Deux, will be danced by Cubans Dayana Hardy Acuna and Randol Figueredo, alternating with principal dancer Shannon Glover and senior soloist Jonathan Rodrigues.

For a little sneak peak preview, see this video from Morning Live’s outside broadcast (which was filmed quite literally outside Joburg Ballet’s studios) where the company launched their double spring season of La Bayadère and The Nutcracker Re-Imagined.

Booking details:

Date: Final show: Saturday 27 September at 7:30pm.
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Tickets: from R100 to R400 via JoburgTheatre.com or 0861 670 670

Special booking offer – Ballet Combo: 20% off all performances except ½ Price Nights if booking for both La Bayadère and The Nutcracker Re-Imagined at the same time. (When booking online, add the code joburg ballet into the coupon field and click on the green plus button to activate the discount to your purchase.)

Classical ballet in grand style, Joburg Ballet’s La Bayadère is on at Joburg Theatre from 12 to 28 September 2014. Photo courtesy Joburg Ballet.

Known as one of the greatest 19th century ballets, La Bayadère (or ‘the temple dancer’ in English) is set in the royal India of the past where the exotic story of love, betrayal, vengeance and justice unfolds. Marking a first for Joburg Ballet, La Bayadère premieres at the Joburg Theatre from 12 September through to 28 September 2014.

Large cast assembled from South Africa and Cuba

Enter the ethereal plane of the Kingdom of the Shades. Photo by Lauge Sorensen

To stage such a big ballet as La Bayadère requires opulent stage sets and a large cast of dancers, particularly for choreographer Marius Petipa’s iconic Kingdom of the Shades scenes where columns of shades (spirits) descend with their synchronous arabesque sequence.

To achieve the grand scale, the company has assembled a large cast including Joburg Ballet’s own principal dancers, soloists and corps de ballet, a guest artist from the National Ballet of Cuba, dancers from the Joburg Ballet Academy, Joburg Ballet Cuban School, additional freelance dancers and extras, as well as two veteran ballet personalities for the mime roles.

In celebrating 5 years of the South Africa-Cuba ballet partnership begun by CEO Dirk Badenhorst in 2009, Joburg Ballet has cast National Ballet of Cuba guest artist Luis David Valle Ponce in the lead male role for certain performances (see full casting below).

Valle Ponce will share the role of the warrior Solor with Ramiro Samón, Juan Carlos Osma and Jonathan Rodrigues. As for the temple dancer Nikiya, the bayadère will be danced by Joburg Ballet’s prima ballerina Burnise Silvius as well as Shannon Glover, Nicole Ferreira-Dill and Lindé Wessels. The rival love interest of Princess Gamzatti will be performed by Claudia Monja, Angela Revie, Sanmarie Kreuzhuber-Hagler and Dayana Hardy Acuna.

Shannon Glover and Luis David Valle Ponce as Nikiya and her warrior love Solor. Photo by Lauge Sorensen

One of the ballet’s spectacular male showpieces, the Bronze Idol, will be shared by Luis David Valle Ponce, Javier Monier, Jonathan Rodrigues, Ramiro Samón and Randol Figueredo, while the two major mime roles – the Rajah and the High Brahmin – will be portrayed by the highly experienced Manuel Noram and Nigel Hannah.

Admitting to the huge undertaking that is La Bayadère, artistic director Iain MacDonald says he’s proud of the dedication and passion of the team, adding that “a classic like La Bayadère is a supreme challenge for any ballet company and our audiences can look forward to a major new addition to our repertoire, beautifully danced by the whole company.”

Casting for La Bayadère:

Casting details (subject to change) are as follows for the roles of Nikiya, Solor, Gamzatti and the Bronze Idol:

• Friday 12 September at 7:30pm: Silvius, Samón, Monja, Valle Ponce
• Saturday 13 September at 3pm: Glover, Valle Ponce, A. Revie, Monier
• Saturday 13 September at 7:30pm: Ferreira-Dill, Osma, Monja, Rodrigues
• Sunday 14 September at 11am: Wessels, Rodrigues, Kreuzhuber-Hagler, Samón
• Sunday 14 September at 3pm: Glover, Valle Ponce, A. Revie, Figueredo
• Tuesday 16 September at 11am: Glover, Valle Ponce, A. Revie, Samón
• Sunday 21 September at 11am: Ferreira-Dill, Osma, Monja, Rodrigues
• Sunday 21 September at 3pm: Silvius, Samón, Acuna, Figueredo
• Wednesday 24 September at 7:30pm: Wessels, Rodrigues, Kreuzhuber-Hagler, Samón
• Friday 26 September at 7:30pm: Silvius, Samón, Monja, Rodrigues
• Saturday 27 September at 3pm: Ferreira-Dill, Osma, Kreuzhuber-Hagler, Valle Ponce
• Sunday 28 September at 3pm: Silvius, Samón, Acuna, Monier

Booking details:

Dates: Fri 12 Sep 7:30pm (½ Price Night); Sat 13 Sep 3pm & 7:30pm; Sun 14 Sep 11am & 3pm; Tue 16 Sep 11am (School Performance); Sun 21 Sep 11am & 3pm; Wed 24 Sep 7:30pm; Fri 26 Sep 7:30pm; Sat 27 Sep 3pm; Sun 28 Sep 3pm.
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Tickets: from R100 to R400 via JoburgTheatre.com or 0861 670 670

Special booking offer – Ballet Combo: 20% off all performances except ½ Price Nights if booking for both La Bayadère and The Nutcracker Re-Imagined at the same time. (When booking online, add the code joburg ballet into the coupon field and click on the green plus button to activate the discount to your purchase.)

Ramiro Samón in his gold medal winning variation from Satanella at the 2014 South African International Ballet Competition in Cape Town in February. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing.

Bringing the top prize back to Johannesburg, senior gold medal winner from the recent South African International Ballet Competition, Ramiro Samón, rejoins the Joburg Ballet cast along with fellow Cuban and silver medallist, Javier Monier, as the company prepares for its production of Coppélia, opening at Joburg Theatre on 7 March 2014.

Both competition medallists will perform in the lead male role (as Franz) in classical ballet’s much-loved comedy, interchanging with Joburg Ballet’s other principal men such as Michael Revie, Jonathan Rodrigues, Carlos Santos and Randol Figueredo.

Joburg Ballet’s leading ladies to perform the role of Swanhilda will include prima ballerina Burnise Silvius and principals Shannon Glover, Angela Revie and Lindé Wessels. See the casting details and dates below.

Coppélia tells the story of an old toymaker who mistakenly believes he’s breathed life into his most beautiful mechanical doll, naturally with comical repercussions. The full cast of 40 dancers delivers all the romance, jealousy, intrigue and of course comedy that makes this ballet one of the much loved classics in the ballet world.

Javier Monier receives his silver medal in the senior classical division at the 2014 South African International Ballet Competition. Photo by Pat Bromilow-Downing.

Casting for Coppélia:

Casting for the roles of Swanhilda, Franz and Dr Coppelius are subject to change.

• Friday 7 March, 19:30: Burnise Silvius, Michael Revie, Jacob Mosehla.
• Saturday 8 March, 15:00: Shannon Glover, Ramiro Samón, Luis de Castro.
• Saturday 8 March, 19:30: Angela Revie, Javier Monier, Luis de Castro.
• Sunday 9 March, 11:00: Burnise Silvius, Michael Revie, Chase Bosch.
• Sunday 9 March, 15:00: Shannon Glover, Jonathan Rodrigues, James Fraser.
• Tuesday 11 March, 11:00: Lindé Wessels, Carlos Santos, Jacob Mosehla.
• Friday 14 March, 19:30: Angela Revie, Randol Figueredo, Luis de Castro.
• Saturday 15 March, 15:00: Burnise Silvius, Michael Revie, Chase Bosch.
• Sunday 16 March, 15:00: Shannon Glover, Jonathan Rodrigues, James Fraser.
• Tuesday 18 March, 11:00: Lindé Wessels, Carlos Santos, Chase Bosch.
• Friday 21 March, 19:30: Shannon Glover, Ramiro Samón, Jacob Mosehla.
• Saturday 22 March, 15:00: Burnise Silvius, Randol Figueredo, Luis de Castro.
• Sunday 23 March, 15:00: Angela Revie, Javier Monier, Jacob Mosehla.

Booking details:

Dates: 7 – 23 March 2014
Venue: The Mandela at Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg
Tickets: From R100 to R450 via wwwJoburgTheatre.com

Every little detail counts – artistic director, Iain MacDonald, coaches Shannon Glover during final dress rehearsals for Cinderella. Photo courtesy Joburg Ballet.

What does it take to create a brand new ballet? Robynn Burls visited Joburg Ballet to meet the real fairy godmother godfather working behind the scenes in the company’s recent season of Cinderella. This is what she discovered about the man behind the magic…

I extended my hand out as I walked up to meet Iain MacDonald, Joburg Ballet’s artistic director, but before I knew it the handshake became a hug. This, I came to learn, is Iain’s way, and it was quickly apparent why he’s so well liked by everyone who knows him.

Cinderella’s magical carriage and charming/comical horses arrive to cart her off to the Prince’s ball. Photo by Susanne Holbaek.

We were sitting down for a coffee and a talk following another successful performance of Cinderella, but any plans I might have had of some form of structured interview were tossed aside two minutes into what immediately became a lively, animated chat, delving into Iain’s latest creation.

He’s naturally warm and easy-going, but clearly equally intense with his enthusiasm for his craft. And the more we talked, the more I could identify his inspired signature all over this brand new ballet – from the little comic moments (like the bobbing of the horses heads as they pulled Cinderella’s carriage) to the laugh-out-loud antics of the ugly sisters, to the very grand and extended final wedding pas de deux.

Balancing act – mixing grand moves with traditional expectations

Iain admits that he created the kind of ballet he would’ve loved to dance himself. Being particularly fond of the pas de deux scenes, but not the stop-start solo variations in-between, he opted to drop the traditional approach and go for one big, impressive final pas de deux instead.

“I wanted it to be a wow thing,” says Iain. “I mean, the whole ballet was based around the final pas de deux. You’ll notice there are no big variations, where he goes, she goes, and I did that intentionally, because I think we’re so used to that.”

And ‘wow’ it was. The final pas de deux was certainly complicated, challenging and dazzling. It was also quite possibly game-changing, especially for the poor Prince who required tremendous strength and a deep stash of stamina to make it through this piece. And just when you thought they’d completed their final hoorah move, the couple went on to do another aerial trick and another (one-armed) lift.

Burnise Silvius and Jonathan Rodrigues created a magic all of their own in Cinderella’s big and dramatic final wedding pas de deux. Photo by Susanne Holbaek.

Iain knew his final pas de deux was tough, but he created it anyway confident that his opening night Prince Charming had the strength to pull it off. In fact, the handsome Jonathan Rodrigues couldn’t be a better fit for the role, leaving more than just Cinderella swooning over his suave, effortless strength and purrrfectly toned b…

Ahem, getting back to the story, Iain said, “For me, the prince is a tall, dark, good-looking guy and I wanted every woman in the audience to be oohing and aahing over him, which works, and the pas de deux is ridiculously hard and Jonathan’s a strong, strong partner”.

Uh-huh, no doubt about that. You can see Jonathan rehearsing with the lovely Burnise Silvius in this video montage from the SABC…

But it’s not only Iain’s final scene that was “ridiculously hard”, the corps were challenged right from the very start too. He had the flower sellers, bakers and dressmakers doing multiple pirouettes while still holding their baskets and breads. (You try doing a double pirouette en pointe while holding a big basket of stuff!) “They asked me if they could put it down” laughs Iain, “and I said no!”

And watch this short video clip (43 seconds) where Iain talks to Top Billing about Cinderella’s entrance and the big pas de deux…

Last minute changes and unexpected surprises

Apart from creating challenges for the dancers, Iain had a few challenges tossed his way too when at the last moment – at 6pm on the final dress rehearsal night – they still had to change sets and rework certain key entrances and exits. But that’s show-business for you.

Iain admits he also had a few flat-lining days during the choreography process, circling in a creative drought not sure how to proceed. And then there were the freak-out moments too.

In particular, he laughs at the cosmic joke that was played on him a few weeks before opening night, running out of time to still teach and finish the ballet. At the height of this stress, with no time to spare (or so he thought), in glided the ever-so-cool-and-calm Colombian choreographer, Álvaro Restrepo, who then wooed almost the entire Cinderella cast into a collaborative Colombian-South African piece for Celebration 5. While Iain helplessly watched the time tick away, itching to get things moving along as swiftly as possible, Álvaro had all the dancers sitting in a large circle… meditating… for three days!

Iain laughingly concedes though that it was probably exactly what everyone needed to calm the frenetic pace and frazzled nerves.

Finding the funny side

In fact, Iain seems quick to spot the humour in most things, which is probably why laughter and giggles bubbled up so naturally from the audience throughout his Cinderella production. Humour was not an afterthought, but rather a very central consideration for Iain.

After commenting on some piece of comic choreography, Iain said to me, “I hope you got the humour throughout the whole ballet. I wanted mom, dad and kids to come to the ballet and for the father not to think, oh my gosh, I’m so bored I can actually cry. I wanted there to be humour for them as well.”

Much of the comedy was also a collaborative process, where Iain allowed the dancers to experiment. “We laughed till the tears were running in the rehearsals,” he said. However, Iain has a strategy even in humour and explained that “it’s a fine line being so funny but not actually telling the story.”

Cinderella’s stepsisters brought a serious dose of comedy to the show, while the stepmother made for an impressively intimidating character. Played here from left, Carlos Santos, Kitty Phetla, Luis de Castro with Burnise Silvius as Cinderella.

In the end, after months of thinking, dreaming and dancing, through inspiration and frustration, and despite time-munching meditating circles and last minute hiccups, Iain and his Joburg Ballet colleagues created a beautifully balanced ballet, as well as a jolly good show.

Coming attractions

“So what’s next?” I asked Iain, to which the answer became another hour-long talk, revealing the mind of an inspired creator, where every song and movie holds the potential for a brand new ballet idea or a creatively updated classic.

But while (always) dreaming up fantastic ideas for future ballets, he’s also preparing for next year’s seasons of the light-hearted Coppélia and then the highly challenging classic, La Bayadere. But also look out for a few fun twists to The Nutcracker coming up in the meantime too.

Wrapping up our talk, with only five minutes to spare before his next appointment, I asked about the long and all-consuming hours he puts into his work. “But for me,” Iain says, “it’s what I love doing, I’m passionate about it. I come to work every day being inspired.”

Here are a few more photos for you to enjoy (click on an image to open the gallery):

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

If you missed it, read the full story here: Highlights from the International Ballet Gala Part 1, and what they didn’t tell you about Alicia Alonso.

With an impressive combination of international and local ballet talent, the ballet gala had three programmes across their five performances, giving audiences an enticing look into ballet repertoire not often seen in South Africa, such as Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes and Agrippina Vaganova’s Diana and Actaeon.

Gala photo gallery

Whether you saw one programme, all three, or none, here’s a frame by frame recap of some of the memorable moments.

Click on a photo to open the gallery…