After an absence of three and a half years, Giselle, the most sublime of all romantic ballets, returns to the stage of Joburg Theatre when Joburg Ballet presents a season of ten performances of the beloved classic from Friday 4 to Sunday 13 October in association with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

A heartrending story of love so powerful it reaches from beyond the grave, the ballet’s exquisite dancing lays bare a tale of passion, betrayal and forgiveness with one of the greatest of all ballerina roles at its centre.

Joburg Ballet dancers sharing the title role during the season of Giselle are Shannon Glover, Claudia Monja and Monike Cristina who will be joined by French guest artist Anaïs Chalendard who made an acclaimed SA debut earlier this year in Joburg Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty.

In the leading role of Albrecht, audiences will see Revil Yon (with Glover), Leusson Muniz (with both Monja and Chalendard) and Ruan Galdino (with Cristina).

In addition to the two leading roles of Giselle and Albrecht, the ballet also provides a showcase for dancers in other roles including a massed corps de ballet which appears in the ghostly second act to chilling effect.

Giselle will be staged by Joburg Ballet’s artistic director Iain MacDonald and ballet mistress Lauren Slade while Australian-based SA ballet luminary, former prima ballerina and artistic director Dawn Weller will rehearse and coach the dancers in the leading roles.

Giselle opens at Joburg Theatre on Friday 4 October for ten performances, ending on Sunday 13 October. The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra will play for all performances except Wednesday 9 October at 11:00, which will be to a recorded score to facilitate filming of Giselle for release on DVD.

Joburg Ballet offers its usual range of affordable ticket options for Giselle, including a 30%-off Early Bird Special (valid until 4 August), 50%-off on Opening Night, two budget-priced Morning Matinees with all seats just R110, and discounts for pensioners and groups.

Joburg Ballet’s Giselle

Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein

Friday 4 Oct at 19:30 – Half Price: R110, R152, R207, R226, R262

Saturday 5 October, Friday 11 October, Saturday 12 October at 19:30;

Saturday 5 October, Sunday 6 October, Saturday 12 October, Sunday 13 October at 15:00

Standard Prices: R220, R303, R413, R451, R523

Tuesday 8 October & Wednesday 9 October at 11:00

All tickets R110 (Wed 9 Oct at 11:00 to recorded music)

Tickets At Joburg Theatre Box Office; or tel. 0861 670 670.

The post Joburg Ballet's Giselle appeared first on Stage and Screen.

by David Simmons

In the wonderful make-believe world of Ballet, stories of love, romance and friendship come to life with the powerful and somewhat eloquent energy of dance at its core. For a sparkling October showcase, the company from Joburg Ballet brings the timeless story of The Nutcracker to the Joburg Theatre’s Nelson Mandela stage. With a slick production and choreography by Angela Malan and artistic management by Iain McDonald & Lauren Slade, the exquisite company have masterfully embodied the music of Tchaikovsky in a wonderful 2 Act pre-Christmas treat.

The Nutcracker has become synonymous with the festivities of Christmas and Holiday cheer and there is no doubt that this offering will have wide appeal to young and older ballet enthusiasts. There is something quite powerful about the fascination and charm of classical ballet, however each theatre goer will experience and take home something completely different. This appealing and magical art form, now more than ever, has a larger appeal to audiences who are interested in discovering something unique and different.

The Nutcracker has been seen throughout the ages for over 100 years and still has magically retained its values and sentimentality.  It has become an almost cult ritual that celebrates the end of a year with sparkle and smiles. Throughout the year Johannesburg audiences have been privileged to witness a number of internationally acclaimed Ballets and The Nutcracker delivers a worthy admiration

It all begins one Christmas Eve where we are invited into a house full of party goers, family and friends who decorate a beautiful and towering Christmas tree. We meet the beautiful young Clara, played by Ana Paulino, who is gifted a toy Nutcracker from her Godfather, Dr Drosselmeyer, performed by Craig Hedderwick, only to discover that her ‘gift’ turns into a handsome prince at midnight. Both Clara and her prince take a magical journey to the Kingdom of the Sweets to rejoice in a display of dancing and cheerfulness.

Along the way we get to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Snow Queen and a group of deliciously eccentric characters. As any magical story goes, there is a great deal more to behold especially with a company who are all effortless in their undertaking.

Audiences continue to remain in awe of a very young and hugely talented company. How refreshing to witness passionate dancers who have the ability to hone in their craft and mould into their respective characters. Stand out performances in this production, are the wonderfully eloquent Nicole Ferreira -Dill who embodied the Snow Queen with ease and Shannon Glover who was graceful in her rendering of The Sugar Plum Fairy. Claudia Monya as always shows strength and ease in her ability as a principal dancer . Credit needs to be given to the hugely talented Armando Barros, Leusson Muniz, Revil Yon and Ruan Galdino, a quadruplet threat who individually make the art of storytelling through movement and dance all the more wonderful to watch.

Understated yet powerful sets have a captivating feel especially when we are transported to different scenic changes. This production is joined by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and under the baton of Conductor Eddie Clayton is it wonderful to hear all the memorable music we have come to love.

Considering The Nutcrackers short run, we would suggest you clear your calendars for the week and make a date with Joburg Ballet to experience this classic ballet and beautiful story telling at its best.

The Nutcracker will be running at the Joburg Theatre until 14th of October 2018. Tickets are available at Webtickets or at the theatre.

The post Review: The Nutcracker appeared first on Stage and Screen.

By David Simmons

The Brothers Grimm fairy tale of the naïve princess who falls into the trap of the evil queen comes to life in the 2017 Joburg Ballet production of Snow White. If you’re waiting for the part where those 7 quirky Dwarves are mentioned, think again, as this Ballet is a total reimagining for a brand-new generating of theatre goers!

It’s so encouraging to see the Joburg Theatre once again holding the flag high for another expertly produced and cleverly choreographed offering. Having said that, one needs to applaud and tip our figurative hats to Iain MacDonald, the Artistic Director for Joburg Ballet, who not only produced and staged Snow White with Lauren Slade but choreographed the production for an all-round visually and memorable indulgence.

Iain has effortlessly created a magical wonderland on stage that intertwines storytelling through dance, with the usual plies, pointes and pirouettes carried out by an exquisite company of eloquent professionals. Not being backed by a live orchestra should not deter you from experiencing the enchantment that Snow White offers. The pre-recording of music by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich was flawless, and for an opening night when you expect the usual technical and staging difficulties, there were none to be seen or heard.

Our story starts in a Kingdom far far away, where we are introduced to the evil queen, played by the breath-taking Kitty Phetla, her courtiers, and not forgetting the beautiful and eloquent Snow White, lead by soloist Nicole Ferreira- Dill. The Royal Huntsman portrayed with aplomb by newly appointed Brazilian dancer Leusson Muniz, successfully ignited a rich and charming tapestry for the classic story that we have all come to love. The production is as innocent and lovely as Snow White, yet it holds a certain enchantment that will captivate you in its fairy-tale snare. The beautiful stage design by Andrew Botha breathed life into the story of good versus evil in an effective, yet understated way. The backdrop was digitally enhanced, incredibly successful for fast scene changes, and a colourful witnessing of Snow White in true 3D cinema experience!

The Ballets shining star was Phetla who although was not in every scene, her solo performances were remarkable in every sense. Ferreira-Dill’s Snow White was delicate and charming with an innocence befitting her creative influence.

In a world so politically correct MacDonald has explored a new take on Snow White. He has cleverly dished the ‘Dwarves’ and introduced us to the ‘Forest people’. Forget Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, Bashful and Sneezy. We are presented with a new bunch of eccentrics fittingly named Coma, Cough, Cranky, Coach, Cuddles, Casanova, and Clumsy, 7 of the most endearing, loveable and eclectic characters you’ll get to meet. You almost feel you’re in a pantomime watching these labourers, hard at work, stealing the heart of Snow White and audience members alike. Added to the mix are friends of Snow White and the forest people, dancers morphed effortlessly into their animal counterparts each movement so convincing it’s as if you’re watching the real thing.

Having never missed a Joburg Ballet production over the years I can positively say that Snow White has been one of the most endearing and beautifully put together ballets yet. It’s common knowledge that our standard of theatre and ballet in South Africa is high, and being able to support locally produced productions makes a 2-hour visit to the Joburg Theatre meaningful and incredibly heart-warming. With equal doses of drama, comedy and romance, I hope you will find joy and a touch of magic in this impressively composed ballet.

Snow White The Ballet will be running at the Joburg Theatre until 22 October 2017. Tickets are available at Webtickets or at the theatre

The post Snow White appeared first on Stage and Screen.