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SPOTLIGHT: Hannah Ward spreads her ballet wings as the Black Swan in SWAN LAKE
- Beverley Brommert
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
Beverley Brommert
Cool elegance and polished execution are hallmarks of Cape Town City Ballet's soloist Hannah Ward, ready for her début in the dual role of Odette/Odile in this month's production of SWAN LAKE at the Joburg Theatre and Cape Town International Centre (CTICC).
As Ward shares her experience of this daunting prospect, it becomes clear that these qualities stem from self-discipline rather than confidence. The production in question, a collaboration between Joburg Ballet (JB) and Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB), will be staged in both Johannesburg and Cape Town and has brought the CTCB dancers to Gauteng to rehearse for the opening run in the City of Gold.
Ward is finding this change of scene both stimulating and challenging: "Being here takes some adapting, though all the facilities at our disposal are excellent - comfortable accommodation, reliable transport, and a truly wonderful studio for rehearsals (the Joburg Ballet Studios are temperature-controlled, with perfect floors)."
On the downside, the altitude of upcountry Gauteng when one is used to dancing at coastal air pressure does not conduce to ease; moreover an unfamiliar environment, however pleasant, inevitably shifts one out of one's comfort zone.
"Fortunately we have found everyone at JB welcoming, and I did have some acquaintance with them last year when I danced the Praline Fairy in a collaborative production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that saw recently won a Naledi Theatre Award for Best Choreography in a Dance, Physical Theatre and Ballet Production.
As Ward is quick to remark, the twin roles she is tackling are "a major challenge". Previous experience of interpreting the White Swan Odette goes some way to mitigating the stress, but even so, with the additional début as the Black Swan "there is much to do in both roles: this is a new dynamic in a new environment, and we only had a few days to prepare before coming here… Watching three seasoned principal JB dancers makes me want to 'do it like that', but I have to remind myself not to imitate others who inspire me, rather be myself and not allow my insecurities to overwhelm me or undermine my performance”.
She is warm in her praise for her co-lead Jerome Barnes, with whom she enjoyed a rewarding partnership in CTCB's production of Giselle earlier this year. "Dancing with him again is certainly reassuring", she comments.
At the time of this interview she was anticipating the first run-through of SWAN LAKE in a few hours' time, a significant step forward in the rehearsal schedule. While admitting that it would be demanding, she expected it to help the dancers come to terms with the ballet's narrative and structure: "Up to now we have rehearsed solos and pas de deux separately, which makes it seem rather artificial; putting everything together will bring the story to life with all the entrances and exits giving a context.”
Both her roles are cause for pleasure and anxiety, given the exacting technical demands underlying their beauty - "there's nowhere to hide, specially in the solos!" But she finds that the more she explores the role of Black Swan, the more it rivals her affection for that of the more familiar Odette.
As July 4th (opening night in Johannesburg) approaches, Ward believes she will become more confident and settled in her performance: "One must learn to embrace rather than fear challenges", she asserts soberly, adding that the main thing is to "get through to the audience.”
Few would dispute that thus far in her short but impressive career, she has succeeded in doing just that.
Hannah Ward as Odette/Odile and Jerome Barnes as Prince Siegfried will be performing at the Joburg Theatre on Sunday 6 July 2025 at 2pm and Saturday 12 July 2025 at 7pm. At CTICC her performance is on Saturday 26 July 2025 at 7pm.
SWAN LAKE is a co-production between South Africa’s two leading ballet companies, Cape Town City Ballet and Joburg Ballet, with the orchestra under the baton of Brandon Philips.
The season in Gauteng opens 4 July 2025 at the Joburg Theatre, and on 25 July 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) where there will be four performances only, on Friday 25 July 2025 at 7pm, Saturday 26 July 2025 at 2pm and 7pm and Sunday 27 July 2025 at 2pm. The season is already heavily sold and advance booking is advised, with seats at both venues available through Webtickets.