Ballet contributors to receive awards

The three awards – the Madge Cade, the Giselle, and the Marigold Hutton Awards – will be presented on stage before the company’s premiere of The Nutcracker Re-Imagined by James Campbell (acting Chairperson, Joburg Ballet Board of Executives), Iain MacDonald (Artistic Director) and Dirk Badenhorst (CEO). The awards acknowledge outstanding contributions to Joburg Ballet by both members of the company as well as those not employed by Joburg Ballet.

The Madge Cade Award, the oldest of the three awards, was established in the 1980s in terms of the wishes of the late Madge Cade and was initially administered by PACT Ballet, being transferred to Joburg Ballet’s predecessor company, South African Ballet Theatre, after the closure of PACT Ballet. This award is given to any employee of the Joburg Ballet, dancer or non-dancer, for outstanding contributions to the company.

The more recently established Giselle Award is made to anyone not employed by the company who has made an important contribution to the good standing, well-being and reputation of Joburg Ballet.

The new award to be presented on 19 September is the Marigold Hutton Award. Bequeathed in terms of the wishes of the late Marigold Hutton, the award will be given annually to two members of the Joburg Ballet, dancers or non-dancers, who will each receive a cash amount in acknowledgment of their love for and dedication to ballet. The award will be made in perpetuity in memory of Marigold Hutton’s own passion for the ballet and her wish to see it survive and flourish in South Africa.

Joburg Ballet adds a uniquely SA production of the Nutcracker to the repertoire, full of matchless entertainment, theatrical tricks and fun that will appeal to those who love ballet the familiar way as well as those looking for something new and out of the ordinary. To give The Nutcracker Re-Imagined a special flavour, the ballet sparkles with local-is-lekker touches like sangomas, baobab trees, rock paintings and koeksusters. Re-staged by Adèle Blank, The Nutcracker Re-Imagined will cast its enchanting spell on audiences whether they are young or just young at heart.

The Nutcracker Re-imagined:

When: Fri 19 Sep 7.30pm (½ Price Night); Sat 20 Sep 3pm & 7.30pm; Tue 23 Sep 11am (School Performance; all tickets R50), Sat 27 Sep 7.30pm

Where: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, Johannesburg

Tickets: R100 – R400

Book: Joburg Theatre / 0861 670 670 / www.joburgtheatre.com

Ballet Combo: 20% off all performances except ½ Price Nights if booking for both La Bayadère and The Nutcracker Re-Imagined at the same time.