Ballet classical and neo-classical takes centrestage when South African Mzansi Ballet brings Celebration 4 to the Joburg Theatre from September 5 to 8.
Mzansi Productions and The South African Ballet Theatre, the merging companies of the South African Mzansi Ballet, receive generous funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.
Following the tremendous success of the South African Mzansi Ballet’s inaugural production of Le Corsaire in July, the company showcases its versatility in a 5-part evening headlined by a revised and expanded version of dancer and choreographer Kitty Phetla’s Carmina Burana. The evening also includes a new work by artistic director Iain MacDonald, the return of a ballet by dancer and choreographer Shannon Glover and two classical pas de deux rarely performed in South Africa.
Set to composer Carl Orff’s iconic Carmina Burana, Kitty Phetla’s ballet offers her exhilarating response to one of the most famous music scores of the 20th century. In abstract rather than narrative style, the ballet blends sleek classicism with Phetla’s avant-garde style.
Bringing the celebrated score to life is the Symphony Choir of Johannesburg joined by solo singers and percussion instruments under the baton of Richard Cock.
The evening’s new work is Iain MacDonald’s Serenity to Brian Crain’s Rain, danced by a cast of six women and six men. Serenity is MacDonald’s first new ballet since 2008. The third SA choreographer on the programme is Shannon Glover whose Amokhonokhono was first performed in Johannesburg last year and at the new opera house in Oman earlier this year.
Adding pure classical sparkle to the evening are two rarely performed gems, Harlequinade Pas de Deux and Flames of Paris Pas de Deux, which have been staged and rehearsed for South African Mzansi Ballet by visiting Cuban ballet teacher NorMaria Olaechea and ballet mistress Angela Malan.
CELEBRATION 4: FAST FACTS
Venue: The Mandela at Joburg Theatre
Dates and Times:
Wednesday 5 September at 7:30pm
Friday 7 September at 7:30pm
Saturday 8 September at 7:30pm
Bookings: 0861 670 670 or
www.joburgtheatre.com
For more information, please contact:
Lindsay McDonald; 011 877 6900;
leon@mzansiproductions.com Samantha Saevitzon; 011 877 6893;
Samantha@saballettheatre.co.za