The most magical time of the year is upon us and this Festive Season, Sandton City is proud to present the return of a wonderfully whimsical theatrical adventure with The Nutcracker’s Winter Circus.  Bigger, better and back for another spectacular season, this year’s adventure includes creative master puppetry, set to bring a host of fun and fantastical characters to life, with the Parade of the Animals, adding a captivating new dimension to the show.

Exclusive to Sandton City and enchanting children and adults alike, the mysterious and magical Nutcracker’s Winter Circus: Parade of the Animals, is a fairy tale fit for the whole family, set in an extravagant circus tent in the Centre Court, for this upcoming holidays.

Following the applauded success of the debut season in 2018, The Nutcracker’s Winter Circus, achieved a Naledi Theatre Award nomination, a formidable first for a shopping centre. It also won a Gold & Spectrum Award in the 2019 South African Council of Shopping Centres’ Marketing Footprint Awards. The unprecedented popularity of the show amongst local and international families led to the anticipated return season in 2019. With over 22 000 patrons enjoying the exclusive world first last year, the introduction of the Parade of the Animals this year is set to raise the creative bar and capture the spirit of Christmas in the city, with a rich tapestry of magic, puppetry and interactive illusion. The Parade of the Animals will not feature any live animals, but rather showcase the wonderful world of animals through theatrical performances by the show’s acclaimed actors.

The Nutcracker’s Winter Circus Parade of the Animals combines the highly talented production team of Producer Lyall Ramsden, Director and Designer Andrew Botha as well as acclaimed Choreographer and Creative David Gouldie, who together have created this 30-minute immersive spectacular that will continue to engage, excite and entertain audiences in 2019.

The Nutcracker’s Winter Circus

11 December 2019 – 5 January 2020

Venue: Sandton City Centre Court

There are four performances daily at 10h30, 12h30, 15h30 and 17h30, seven days a week, (excl. Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill and New Year’s Day).

Tickets are available from Ticketpro, at a cost R20 online (with no charge for children under three years) or by visiting selected Edgars, CNA, Jet, POSTNET stores.

Tickets are also available at the door for a R30 fee.

Sandton City is passionate about Christmas with a cause, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Sandton SPCA.

Warning:

Total Enjoyment will be Compulsory.

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The Johannesburg Youth Ballet celebrates 40 Years (1976 – 2016)

The Johannesburg Youth Ballet’s 40^th Anniversary Gala season will be celebrated in style at The Mandela, Joburg Theatre from 14 October to 16 October with A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Other Ballets.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, choreographed by Mark Hawkins, is given expansive wings by his delightfully zany ’re-imagining’ of the Shakespearean comedy and his skilful choreography, and is further enhanced by the lighting design by professional designer Nicholas Michaletos and the set and costume design by the internationally acclaimed designer Andrew Botha, who has given the “visions” “form and feature”. The spectacular designs for both sets and costumes are as fresh and innovative as when Hawkins first dreamed his “Midsummer Night’s Dream” about 20 years ago.

Premiered by his Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company in 1997, the ballet was aptly described as “a froth of classical dance and comedy”. It successfully toured Taiwan in 1999 and earned principal dancer, Mary Ann de Wet the Nederburg Ballet prize for her exquisite interpretation of Titania. And in the serendipitous circle of celebrations, de Wet has made herself available to teach and guide the young dancers of JYB for this milestone season

The programme also features Garlands, from The Sleeping Beauty (a ballet first performed in 1890 to the music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky) a 40^th Anniversary ’re -invention’ by Kate Retief, who brings her distinctive choreographic touch to this greatly loved waltz.

An exciting and topical new contemporary work, LOOK UP, choreographed by Shanell Winlock Pailman and Nicholas Aphane completes the celebratory line-up. LOOK UP, danced to the stirring music of Hans Zimmer’s Time Suite, is inspired by the digital age, conformity and the impact that new technology has on socialisation, interpersonal communication and relationships. “‘Looking up’ is that universal sense in knowing where you want to go, who you address and how you relate to the world and people around you – but these days our smart phones talk for us and connect us without us having to ‘look up’ very often and so we spend less and less time making physical contact or eye contact. LOOK UP explores the need for physical touch, conversation, personal confrontation or even the formation and patterns created by us throughout the day”, says Winlock-Pailman.

The JYB was founded by Audrey King in 1976 and has the distinction of being the oldest youth company in South Africa. Over the past 40 years it has given well over 1500 young dancers from the greater Johannesburg region an opportunity to be a part of a professionally run company and to experience the dynamics of performing in an annual season.

The Johannesburg Youth Ballet is a proud and grateful recipient of National Arts Council Company funding and extends warm thanks and acknowledgement to the NAC, as well as its media partner, Creative Feel magazine.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Other Ballets runs from 14 to 16 October at the Mandela, Joburg Theatre.

Performance times: Friday 14 October – Gala Opening at 19h30; Saturday 15 October and Sunday 16 October at 11h00 and 15h00.

Tickets: R100 – R120 – for tickets call 0861 670 670 or visit www.joburgtheatre.com (block bookings are available) or at the Joburg Theatre box office OR online at www.webtickets.co.za / patrons can also book and pay via the Nedbank app and at selected Pick n Pay stores (full list at www.webtickets.co.za/pnpoutlets.aspx)

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Four ballerinas will share the title role when Joburg Ballet’s sumptuous production of Cinderella returns to Joburg Theatre for ten performances only, from Friday 30 September to Sunday 9 October.

Heading the line-up of stars is Joburg Ballet’s prima ballerina Burnise Silvius, who will dance the lead role on opening night, partnered by Jonathan Rodrigues as her handsome prince. Soloist Kirstel Jensen, making her debut as Cinderella, will be partnered by principal dancer Michael Revie.

Principal dancer Shannon Glover and senior soloist Nicole Ferreira-Dill, also making her title role debut, will both be partnered by visiting guest artist Owen Thorne as the Prince. Thorne will be making his first professional appearance in South Africa with Joburg Ballet.

Born in New Orleans, USA, Thorne studied ballet in San Francisco, Nashville and Pennsylvania, before starting his career with Houston Ballet and later moving to Scottish Ballet. He has danced in works by many of the world’s leading choreographers, among them Balanchine, Ashton, MacMillan, Wheeldon, Forsythe, Bourne, Kylian and Van Manen.

The role of the Fairy Godmother will be danced by Nicole Ferreira-Dill, Sanmarie Kreuzhuber, Claudia Monja and Kitty Phetla, while Andrew Botha’s glittering designs frame the action.

Choreographed by Joburg Ballet’s artistic director Iain MacDonald, Cinderella waltzes across the stage with Johann Strauss’s champagne-infused melodies providing the perfect musical setting for this ultimate rags-to-riches tale.

Performance casting for the roles of Cinderella and the Prince is as follows:

Burnise Silvius, Jonathan Rodrigues:   Fri 30 Sep at 19:30, Sun 2 Oct at 15:00, Sat 8 Oct at 15:00

 Kirstel Jensen, Michael Revie:   Sat 1 Oct at 15:00, Wed 5 Oct at 11:00, Sat 8 Oct at 19:30

 Shannon Glover, Owen Thorne:  Sat 1 Oct at 19:30, Sun 9 Oct at 15:00

 Nicole Ferreira-Dill, Owen Thorne: Tue 4 Oct at 11:00, Fri 7 Oct at 19:30

CINDERELLA:

WHERE: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein

DATES AND PRICES:

Opening Night Friday 30 September at 19:30

All seats half price: R90, R125, R170, R195, and R225

1, 2, 8, 9 October at 15:00 & 1, 7, 8 October at 19:30

Standard Prices: R180, R250, R340, R390, R450

4, 5 October at 11:00

All seats: R80

BOOK NOW: In person at Joburg Theatre Box Office or tel. 0861 670 670; online at www.webtickets.co.za

Patrons can also book and pay via the Nedbank app and at selected Pick n Pay stores. Full list at www.webtickets.co.za/pnpoutlets.aspx

Joburg Ballet thanks Kaya FM, our radio partner, for their support.

We would like to acknowledge the support of the City of Johannesburg and all our Sponsors.

Follow the company on our social media platforms; Facebook.com/joburgballet, Instagram.com/joburgballet, @JoburgBallet or online at www.joburgballet.com

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