Joburg Ballet & Cape Town City Ballet Swan Lake casting announced
Joburg Ballet and Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB) have announced principal casting for their joint production of Swan Lake in Johannesburg and Cape Town in July. The two companies have a line-up of established stars and exciting newcomers waiting in the wings to dance the leading roles in this most iconic of ballet classics.
This season will mark the first time in almost 30 years that South Africa’s two leading classical ballet companies are joining forces for one of the great ballet classics, making it possible to present this legendary ballet on a grand scale seldom seen in South Africa.
Swan Lake opens at the Joburg Theatre on Friday 4 July with a further nine performances running through to Sunday 13 July. The Johannesburg 
Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Eddie Clayton will play Tchaikovsky’s majestic Swan Lake score for the Johannesburg season.
The ballet transfers to the Cape Town International Convention Centre for four performances from 25 to 27 July with a specially assembled orchestra under the baton of conductor Brandon Phillips.
Originally planned to include performances in Durban and Bloemfontein as part of a wider national tour, for logistical reasons Swan Lake will be presented only in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The Swan Lake season opens at the Joburg Theatre on Friday 4 July at 7pm with Joburg Ballet principal dancer Monike Cristina in the fabled role of Odette-Odile and Bruno Miranda as Prince Siegfried. Cristina and Miranda also dance in Johannesburg on Thursday 10 July at 11am.
- Joburg Ballet principal dancers Tammy Higgins and Revil Yon can be seen as Odette-Odile and Siegfried in Johannesburg on Saturday 5 July at 2pm and Friday 11 July at 7pm and at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Saturday 26 July at 2pm.
- The third Joburg Ballet principal couple, Ryoko Yagyu and Ivan Domiciano, dance in Johannesburg on Saturday 12 July at 2pm and in Cape Town on Sunday 27 July at 2pm.
- Cape Town City Ballet principals Kirstel Paterson and Leusson Muniz dance in Johannesburg on Saturday 5 July at 7pm and Wednesday 9 July at 11am and at the opening night in Cape Town on Friday 25 July at 7pm.
- CTCB’S Hannah Ward and Jerome Barnes dance in Johannesburg on Sunday 6 July at 2pm and Saturday 12 July at 7pm, and in Cape Town on Saturday 26 July at 7pm.
- For the closing performance of the Johannesburg season on Sunday 13 July at 2pm, CTCB has cast two dancers, Sasha Barnes and Isabella Redman, to share the role of Odette-Odile opposite Leusson Muniz as the Prince.
The role of the evil Von Rothbart will be shared by CTCB’s Axton Green and Joburg Ballet’s Gabriel Fernandes and David Maluleka.
The production of Swan Lake that the two companies are presenting was originally staged in Cape Town by French dancer Attilio Labis in 1971. Acclaimed SA choreographer Veronica Paeper will be responsible for restaging the ballet this year.
Close on 150 years after its first performance in Moscow in 1877, this saga of love and betrayal remains at the pinnacle of classical ballet, performed by ballet companies around the world with its leading role danced by the great ballerinas of every generation.
Commenting on Swan Lake, Joburg Ballet CEO Elroy Fillis-Bell said: “Joburg Ballet is thrilled to be partnering with Cape Town City Ballet. It gives us the opportunity to present a production of one of the great classical ballets on a scale appropriate to the classical tradition.”
Tracy Li, Cape Town City Ballet’s Artistic Manager, said: “Swan Lake is a breathtakingly beautiful full-length classic. Cape Town City Ballet is excited to collaborate with Joburg Ballet to create magic and share this wonderful experience. With much anticipation, we look forward to this exciting and meaningful collaboration, a celebration of appreciation and unity within this unique and powerful artform.”
SWAN LAKE: CASTING AND BOOKING INFORMATION
Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg
Friday 4 July at 7pm: Monike Cristina, Bruno Miranda, Gabriel Fernandes
Saturday 5 July at 2pm: Tammy Higgins, Revil Yon, Gabriel Fernandes
Saturday 5 July at 7pm: Kirstel Paterson, Leusson Muniz, Axton Green
Sunday 6 July at 2pm: Hannah Ward, Jerome Barnes, David Maluleka
Wednesday 9 July at 11am: Kirstel Paterson, Leusson Muniz, Axton Green
Thursday 10 July at 11am: Monike Cristina, Bruno Miranda, Gabriel Fernandes
Friday 11 July at 7pm: Tammy Higgins, Revil Yon, Gabriel Fernandes
Saturday 12 July at 2pm: Ryoko Yagyu, Ivan Domiciano, David Maluleka
Saturday 12 July at 7pm: Hannah Ward, Jerome Barnes, Axton Green
Sunday 13 July at 2pm: Sasha Barnes, Isabella Redman, Leusson Muniz, Axton Green
Ticket Prices: R125 – R670
Booking: www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1564913220 or 0861 670 670
Cape Town International Convention Centre
Friday 25 July at 7pm: Kirstel Paterson, Leusson Muniz, Axton Green
Saturday 26 July at 2pm: Tammy Higgins, Revil Yon, Gabriel Fernandes
Saturday 26 July at 7pm: Hannah Ward, Jerome Barnes, Axton Green
Sunday 27 July at 2pm: Ryoko Yagyu, Ivan Domiciano, David Maluleka
Cape Town International Convention Centre
Ticket Prices: R200 – R800
Booking: www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1569630015