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Lia Mundell
The Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB) is proud to announce a landmark celebration, marking its extraordinary 90-year history. A milestone performance and glittering gala dinner will honour the illustrious past, while celebrating the future of dance.
The grand performance features both the CTCB artists and international guests from The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet, The Czech National Ballet, and Joburg Ballet.
A Night to Remember: The 90th Gala
The gala evening promises a beautiful display of dance and music, featuring old CTCB favourites, classical masterpieces, and works never seen before in South Africa. Accompanied by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of guest conductor Daniel Parkinson, this one-night-only event will be an unforgettable celebration of the arts.
Star favourites of Cape Town, Fumi Kaneko and Vadim Muntagirov, will perform Veronica Paeper’s exquisite Romeo and Juliet and the Sleeping Beauty wedding pas de deux.
Guests from Joburg Ballet will perform an excerpt from Paeper’s renowned Camille, while the rest of the programme remains a delightful surprise. Tracy Li, one of the renowned former company ballerinas, who has taken up the position of Artistic Manager, will be heading up the two productions alongside David Nixon, Artistic Producer, to bring to life the incredible programme and vision for the company.
For those wishing to support the future of the CTCB, a gala dinner will follow the performance, offering guests the unique opportunity to dine with the evening’s performers.
Winter Dances: A Showcase of Talent and Innovation
In addition to the gala, the company presents the Winter Dances, a vibrant collection of works by young choreographers. This programme will highlight the versatility and talent of the CTCB artists through a variety of styles, showcasing their energy, athleticism, grace, and emotion.
Kenneth Tindall, an international rising star in choreography, returns to the stage with his unique take on classical dance. His highly anticipated piece, Shades of You, promises to be a highlight of the evening.
Two works created during the pandemic at Northern Ballet will bring a contrast to the stage. Mariana Rodrigues’ The Garden, a lyrical piece for women, celebrates the grace and community of female dancers. In contrast, Cape Town’s own Mlindi Kulashe presents a dynamic and quirky piece for men calledMen Dances.
David Nixon will debut a new work set to Dvorak’s string quartet, The American. This piece, which lends its name to the evening’s title, Winter Dances, will explore the nuances of this beautiful music.
Nixon has had an extraordinary career that included being the longest serving Artistic Director at Northern Ballet (UK), as well as being named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010 and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2022 for his contribution to the world of dance. He will continue to assist in developing the future artistic vision of the company.
The evening will also feature the return of the beloved duet Pie Jesu, choreographed by Garry Trinder, a poignant pas de deux last seen in Cape Town in 1993. At select performances, Fumi Kaneko and Vadim Muntagirov will present Vadim’s choreography for the first time, offering a special treat in celebration of the company’s 90th year.
Cape Town City Ballet’s 90th Anniversary Gala
24 August 2024, 17h00
Artscape, Opera House, Cape Town
Tickets available online at Webtickets here
Winter Dances
29 August 19h30
30 August 19h30
31 August 14h00, 19h30
1 September 14h00
Artscape, Opera House, Cape Town
Tickets available online at Webtickets here
For more information, visit https://capetowncityballet.org.za
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