Back on stage: Cape Town City Ballet, March 2021

Back on stage: Cape Town City Ballet – back on stage from March 18-20, 2021

In December [2020], Cape Town City Ballet staged one performance of its much anticipated ‘back on stage season’ at Artscape – to an ovation.  The rest of the performances were postponed due to the sudden spike of Covid numbers. Now, in March 2021, CTCB is going back on stage with George Balanchine’s celebrated Serenade and Moon Behind the Clouds– a new piece – a suite of works made during Covid-19, by South African choreographers.  This season is being dedicated to the memory of Computicket founder, Percy Tucker who passed away recently, after contracting Covid. Info as supplied.

PROUD RETURN FOR CAPE TOWN CITY BALLET – BACK ON STAGE AT ARTSCAPE IN MARCH

Cape Town City Ballet proudly returns to the Artscape Opera House for four performances only in March. Due to social distancing requirements, only 100 seats will be available for each performance. 

Following a one-off performance in December to a standing ovation, CAPE TOWN CITY BALLET – BACK ON STAGE will be performed on 18, 19 and 20 March. 

The programme features two works – George Balanchine’s exquisite SERENADE and MOON BEHIND THE CLOUDS, a suite of works made during the time of Covid-19, by South African choreographers including Veronica Paeper, Kirsten Isenberg, Yaseen Manuel, Lindy Raizenberg and Marlin Zoutman.  

The performances of SERENADE have been made possible by the Toby Fine Ballet Fund, formed in memory of the remarkable South African ballerina, Toby Fine by David Bloomberg and the Bloomberg family.

George Balanchine’s SERENADE is staged by Rebecca Metzger (via Zoom) for The George Balanchine Foundation performed to music by Tchaikovsky. 

MOON BEHIND THE CLOUDS is a suite of works made during the time of Covid-19, by leading South African choreographers. Laced together through the timeless text of Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata this emotive and inspirational suite will be narrated by acclaimed performer Marcel Meyer.  Nathalie Vijver is the Dramaturg for the work. Lighting Design is by Wilhelm Disbergen. 

“Following one of the most challenging years for the arts industry and ongoing challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic,we are proud to return to the Artscape stage, as we herald the start of a milestone year with Artscape’s 50^thbirthday,” says Debbie Turner, CEO of Cape Town City Ballet. 

“We celebrate the power of live performance by staging these shows in honour of the life of David Bloomberg. He was a tireless philanthropist and supporter of the arts, who enabled so much for live performance through his vision and ongoing investment,” says Turner. 

“With this run we also pay tribute to the memory of Percy Tucker, a longstanding Board member, friend and unwavering supporter of Cape Town City Ballet. The kindness and wisdom of this gentle giant of the performing arts industry is sorely missed.  We salute his life at the start of this 50^thyear of Artscape, which fittingly coincides with the 50^th anniversary of Computicket, the first electronic theatre booking system in the world which Percy established in 1971.”

CAPE TOWN CITY BALLET – BACK ON STAGE will be presented from Thursday 18 to Saturday 20 March at 19h30 with a matinee on Saturday 20 March at 15h00.

Tickets cost R300 each for the evening performances and R250 each for the matinee. 

Bookings can be made at Artscape Dial-a-seat 021 421 7695 or through Computicket https://tickets.computicket.com/event/cape_town_city_ballet___back_on_stage_/7167412

Please Note: The event complies with all COVID-19 regulations including social distancing and patrons must wear masks for entry. 

 
Cape Town City Ballet is grateful for the support of the City of Cape Town, Western Cape Government, Food Lovers Market and Toby Fine Ballet Fund.  

*Invest in the future of Cape Town City Ballet!  There are a number of ways to do this – become a VIP Friend, make a once-off or recurring donation, invest in the long-term endowment fund, make a bequest or nominate Cape Town City Ballet as a beneficiary on your My School card.

About Cape Town City Ballet

Cape Town City Ballet is one of the longest standing ballet companies in the world. With strong heritage and roots, the organisation is moving into the next era with the objectives of delighting anew its loyal supporters as well as inspiring new audiences to love ballet, all to be achieved by delivering unique dance entertainment through integrity, creativity and excellence. 

Since the Company’s inception, it has been renowned for providing opportunities for training and employment to all, despite the ruling laws of previous times. It remains committed to developing the dancers of the future, and the CTCB’s various development and education programmes have reached more than 320 000 young people. Its audience development and training initiatives include the Young Male Dancer Development Programme, the Apprentice Programme and partnerships for training programme with various dance schools. 

The Choreolab programme was introduced in 2019 as a platform to incubate, nurture and invest in aspiring South African choreographers from within the Company. The choreographer is supported in creating and staging a work, while developing their choreographic skills by also working with a mentor. Three dancers took part in the 2019 initiative.  With the onset of Covid-19 and accompanying restrictions, the Choreolab programme was adapted for 2020.  Nine dancers each created a dance piece for  a short dance film in collaboration with Norval Foundation and inspired by and celebrating the work  of William Kentridge from his Why Should I Hesitate: Sculpture exhibition.The Choreolab will be an annual programme to further develop new South African creative talent, each year working with different choreographers as mentors on the programme. 

CTCB aims to serve the dance community as a whole, and provides opportunities for teachers and young dancers in training from around the City to participate and gain experience in professional productions and attend various rehearsals.  In 2019, students and young dancers took part in A Christmas Carol, Sleeping Beauty and Enemy Behind the Gates. In 2020 students had the opportunity to observe rehearsals of Maina Gielgud’s Swan Lake.

Featured image: Cape Town City Ballet dancers in Moon Behind The Clouds. Photo: Kim Stevens.

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Related coverage: https://thecaperobyn.co.za/ballet-preview-cape-town-city-ballet-back-on-stage-dec-2020/