| What: Breathwords, triple bill presented by Cape Ballet Africa When: March 25 , 26, 27, 2025 Where: Artscape Opera House, Cape Town Bookings: Webtickets or Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 – 4217695 Triple bill by three choreographers: whispers from within – world premiere, choreographed by Dutch choreographer Wubkje Kuindersma, set to Summer and Spring of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, recomposed by Max Richter. Remanso, choreographed by Spanish choreographer, Nacho Duato. The globally acclaimed work was created in 1997 for the American Ballet Theatre, New York and is set to music by Spanish composer, Enrique Granados. Reverie, choreographed by South African choreographer, Kirsten Isenberg (resident choreographer of Cape Ballet Africa), first presented by Cape Ballet in 2024 is set to Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Live music accompaniment: The Cape Town Philharmonic. Gerhard Joubert, South African award-winning concert pianist is playing for Nacho Duato’s Remanso and Kirsten Isenberg’s Reverie which was created around Sergei Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 2. The Cape Ballet Africa Company dancers: Gabriel Ravenscroft, Gemma Trehearn, Jan Kotzé, Joshua Williams, Julia O’Keeffe, Kayla Schultze, Leanè Theunissen, Mia Coomber, Nicolas Laubscher, Nina Simpson and Tayla de Bie. Apprentices are Aphiwe November, Erin Padoa, Gia Lipschitz and Thomas Larché. |
At the opening performance of Cape Ballet Africa’s Breathwords, people were gasping “breathtaking”. Yes. Breathwords is breathtakingly beautiful ballet- a programme of three ballets – choreographed by Dutch, Spanish and South Africa choreographers: Wubkje Kuindersma – Dutch, Nacho Duato – Spanish and Kirsten Isenberg – South Africa. The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra is playing at all the three performances – March 25, 26 and 27, 2025 at Artscape AND the amazing Gerhard Joubert – the 23 year old award-winning virtuoso. There are only three performances and as the last one is tonight, March 27, this is a quickie review, although I have been posting on social media.
This morning, Cape Ballet Africa’s publicist, Christine Skinner, confirmed that Breathwords will be performed in Johannesburg, in June (2025) at Teatro Montecasino. I hope that the production will return to Cape Town but yes, it is that good, that it is worth a trip to Jozi to watch this extraordinary piece of ballet theatre which is conceptually and visually a feast. It is nuanced ballet theatre which invites several viewings as there is a lot to take in and process.
Cape Ballet Africa dancers dazzle with their dance – from the grace and precision of classical ballet in Kirsten Isenberg’s Reverie, to the athleticism and physical theatre and comedy in Nacho Duato’s Remanso and the exquisite lyricism in Wubkje Kuindersma’s whispers from within.
Dutch choreographer Wubkje Kuindersma has conceptualised whispers from within around Summer and Spring of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, recomposed by Max Richter. The arrangement by Richter provides a new spin to Summer and Spring and Kuindersma taps into the “whispers within” Summer and Spring to evoke a lyrical conversation between bodies in space. Kuindersma who was born in Cameroon by the way has also designed the costumes. The male and female and dancers are dressed in skirts which drapes them and blends gender. It is gentle and affirming and invites us to gaze at bodies and space, rather than focus on gender. I loved that. These are bodies interacting with one another and gender is not a concern as we hang on to each movement and breath that they take in the tangle of connections and whispered conversations.
Remanso, choreographed by Spanish choreographer, Nacho Duato was created in 1997 for the American Ballet Theatre, New York and is set to music by Spanish composer, Enrique Granados. The ballet has been globally acclaimed and one can see why. The audience on opening night were rapturous. Remanso is described in the programme as a “a still pool in a running stream”. Google it and it is described as a pause, a space for contemplation and so on. Duato’s set features a square which becomes a container, a space as the three male dancers join, climb, separate and tease each other into uniting in the square. Frequently playful and comical and intensely physical, Remanso is one of the most intriguing pieces of ballet theatre that I have seen. I love the clowning and the use of gesture by the dancers. This is powerful non-verbal ballet theatre with a compelling narrative which resonates profoundly: Can one find and cherish a space and place in this hectic world?
South African, Kirsten Isenberg is resident choreographer at Cape Ballet Africa and her beautiful Reverie was first presented by Cape Ballet is 2024 is set to Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. It is wonderful to see this stunning piece, costumed in blush pink again. The dance has been enhanced and the company has totally immersed itself in the piece with the gorgeous refrains of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, with Gerhard Joubert at the piano. Wow.
Bravo to Debbie Turner and her team and of course the incredible company of dancers.
Watch the video with the beautiful message by Marlene Le Roux CEO of Artscape reflecting about the production, after the opening performance: “It’s about breathing. It is about love and this is what the world needs – for us to love unconditionally – and for peace.” Yes. Breathe. Breaths. Love. Video here – scroll to the end of the pics: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FJxJHmp2H/ Do not miss the stunning Breathwords.
✳ Featured image: Leanè Theunissen in Wubkje Kuindersma’s whispers from within, part of Cape Ballet Africa’s triple bill Breathwords, premiere season in Cape Town, Artscape Opera House, March 25 , 26, 27, 2025. Photo: Paul Seaby.
