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Beverley Brommert
One of the most instructive experiences for a ballet-lover is to witness at close quarters an informal rehearsal ahead of an upcoming production: it shows with vivid immediacy the demands placed on dancers in their striving to achieve the perfection requisite for a praiseworthy performance.
Six weeks before the opening night of Cape Ballet Africa's maiden offering, SALT, the young company of 12 dancers demonstrated the truth of this observation as, before the unnerving proximity of their invited audience, they debunked the illusion of effortless execution behind the polish and grace of professional ballet.
Tensed muscles, straining tendons, and copious sweat attested to the CBA's newly recruited young artists' commitment to meet the standard demanded of them by their Artistic Director, Debbie Turner, as they addressed the challenges of three very diverse works.
The latter make up the collage of SALT, and even for seasoned executants, they are far from light work. Apart from varying technical demands, their widely differing styles and moods require significant versatility, from the ethereal elegance of Reverie (choreographed by Kirsten Isenberg) to Michelle Reid's playful, jazz-accented Smoke, with Mthuthuzeli November's boldly expressive Chapter 2 in between.
As the session progressed and the dancers' collective endeavour continued unabated despite physical exhaustion, Turner explained that, while respecting the limitations of stamina, it is necessary to maintain the impetus so that dancers in training gradually but steadily increase their range of strength and expertise.
Some impressive pas de deux and pas de trois punctuated commendable ensemble, boding well for the forthcoming showcase of balletic prowess from this energetic young company, whose début coincides felicitously with spring, season of new beginnings...
Cape Ballet Africa’s inaugural season SALT at the Baxter Theatre will run from 21 to 28 September 2024. Tickets can be booked online through Webtickets.
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