Giselle

Company Marks Giselle’s 175^th Anniversary

Joburg Ballet artistic director Iain MacDonald has announced major productions for 2016, beginning with Giselle, widely acknowledged as one of the most beautiful classical ballets ever created, from 8 – 17 April at Joburg Theatre. Giselle will be followed by Romeo and Juliet (15 – 24 July) and Cinderella (30 September – 9 October), with a number of shorter ballets, new works, touring engagements and open days throughout the year.

Joburg Ballet will join many companies worldwide in marking Giselle’s 175^th anniversary this year. “Ever since its first performance in 1841, this moving story of a young girl who dies of a broken heart has been admired as one of the ultimate measures of a ballerina’s greatness,” said MacDonald. “We are proud to join the international community in celebrating this landmark anniversary after an absence of four years from our repertoire.”

MacDonald also announced promotions and new appointments in the company: Jonathan Rodrigues and Juan Carlos Osma have been promoted from Senior Soloist to Principal Dancer rank; Nicole Ferreira-Dill and Claudia Monja have been promoted from Soloist to Senior Soloist and Shana Dewey has been promoted from the Corps de Ballet to the Senior Corps de Ballet.

Newly appointed as Soloists from Brazil are Monike Cristina and Ivan Domiciano, while joining Joburg Ballet’s Junior Corps from the Joburg Ballet Academy are Kelly Roberts, Cristina Nakos and Alice Le Roux, and new to the Aspirant Programme are Jessica Lombard and Krystn Janicek, who joins the company from the USA. This brings the total number of dancers in the company to 28.

Commenting on the new company members, MacDonald said: “It’s wonderful to see Joburg Ballet continues to attract top flight international talent. I’m also particularly pleased that the three new members of our Junior Corps de Ballet are all graduates from our Academy, which I think reflects well on both the strength of young dancers emerging in South Africa and also on the company’s investment in training and developing the next generation.”

The company’s new ticket pricing for 2016 is now in effect and is part of an ongoing drive to make ballet more accessible to a wider audience and to expand its appeal as popular family entertainment.

Several price categories have been lowered and the theatre seating plan reconfigured to substantially increase the number of seats now on sale at lower prices. An Early Bird Special of 30% off all standard priced tickets for Giselle purchased before 7 February, together with a 50% discount on all tickets for the opening night performance on 8 April and an R80 ticket price throughout the house for two 11.00am performances on 12 and 13 April, increases affordability and gives the public a wider variety of low cost ticket options.

 

Giselle

Joburg Theatre

8 April at 7.30pm – Half Price: R90, R125, R170, R195, R225

9, 10, 16, 17 April at 3.00pm

9, 15, 16 April at 7.30pm

 

Early Bird offer – 30% off Standard Prices until 7 February: R126, R175, R238, R273, R315

Standard Prices (after 31 January): R180, R250, R340, R390, R450

12, 13 April at 11.00am – all tickets R80

Booking for Giselle is now open via Joburg Theatre – 0861 670 670 & online at www.joburgtheatre.com and www.webtickets.co.za – and casting will be announced in the first quarter of 2016.

*Photos by Lauge Sorensen