La Traviata returns to Joburg Ballet
JOBURG – The return of a classic is set to captivate ballet lovers.
Joburg Ballet’s first production for this year will be the long-awaited return of celebrated choreographer Veronica Paeper’s La Traviata – The Ballet to Joburg Theatre for 10 performances from 31 March to 9 April. The ballet was last performed in Johannesburg to public and critical acclaim in 2008.
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Paeper is South Africa’s leading choreographer who works in the classical style and has created an extensive repertoire of ballets. She is particularly admired for her full-length story ballets, among which La Traviata – The Ballet is one of her most popular works.
This production is based on the 19th-century story of the Lady of the Camellias. A deeply moving portrait of a woman who sacrifices all for the man she loves, the ballet is set to the unforgettable music of the opera La Traviata, arranged and adapted for ballet by conductor Allan Stephenson.
BLAST FROM THE PAST: Prima ballerina Burnise Silvius performs in the 2005 production of La Traviata, which is set to be performed again this year.
In addition to local performances, the ballet show has also been presented in the UK where critics admired it as ‘graceful, passionate and ravishingly romantic’, ‘an utterly compelling production’ and ‘outstanding throughout’.
The company has also announced several new appointments for the year. After leaving Joburg Ballet for the last four months of 2016 to take part in a Cape Town production of Spartacus, Juan Carlos Osma and Dayana Acuna have rejoined the company; Spanish dancer Sergi Castello has joined as a soloist; Jessica Hurwitz and Savannah Ireland from the Joburg Ballet Academy have joined as members of the junior corps de ballet; and Shayne Greene, Luisa Higgo and Sibusiso Mtsweni have joined the company’s aspirant programme for this year.
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Promotions announced by Joburg Ballet for this year are Dayana Acuna and Kirstel Jensen to senior soloist; Shana Dewey to soloist; Ruan Galdino and Thabang Mabaso to senior corps de ballet; Alice le Roux to corps de ballet; and Kyle Baird and Mahlatse Sachane to junior corps de ballet. Krystn Janicek and Jessica Lombard, who were in the aspirant programme last year, have been named as ad hoc dancers for this year.
Details: 0861 670 670; www.joburgtheatre.com; www.joburgballet.com; www.webtickets.co.za
