Enjoy a ballet romance in July

There’s exciting news for Joburg Ballet’s upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet.

Joburg Ballet artistic director, Iain MacDonald has announced that Australian-born international guest artist Aaron Smyth will visit South Africa in July to dance as Romeo for the first time in Joburg Ballet’s production of Romeo and Juliet.

Sharing the role of Romeo with Smyth during the 10-performance season at the Joburg Theatre, from 15 to 24 July, are Joburg Ballet principal dancers Juan Carlos Osma, Michael Revie and Jonathan Rodrigues.

Alternating as Juliet will be Shannon Glover, Kirstel Jensen, Dayana Hardy and prima ballerina, Burnise Silvius.

Glover, Jensen and Hardy won accolades for their performances as Giselle last month, while Silvius will make an eagerly awaited return to the stage in one of her most highly-acclaimed roles following an injury earlier this year.

Smyth is returning to Joburg Ballet for his career début as Romeo after earlier guest appearances with the company in previous years. With his technical brilliance, strong dramatic flair and engaging stage presence, he is one of Joburg Ballet’s most popular guest artists.

MacDonald has also announced that Joburg Ballet will be joined for the Romeo and Juliet season by 10 dancers from Vuyani Dance Theatre, one of South Africa’s leading dance companies, which will augment Joburg Ballet for the large scale Romeo and Juliet which returns to the company’s repertoire after an absence of five years.

Commenting on the partnership, MacDonald said, “We are very pleased to share the stage with Vuyani Dance Theatre. I know our dancers will gain from this experience and I believe the Vuyani dancers will find value and enjoyment in this partnership. It is also my hope that sharing the stage will expose both Joburg Ballet and Vuyani to new audiences.”

Gregory Vuyani Maqoma, creative executive director of Vuyani Dance Theatre, commented, “One of the pillars of Vuyani Dance Theatre’s 2020 Strategy places collaborations of different artistic voices in the forefront in enhancing the ideals of cultural cohesion. It is in this regard that we see the collaboration with Joburg Ballet fulfilling our mandate of exploring new spaces and audiences and to also expose our audiences to a historically classical form of dance that has a long history in our country.”

Details: 0861 670 670; www.joburgballet.com; www.webtickets.co.za; www.vuyani.co.za