south african dance cape town city ballet. background 1934 dulcie howes began her own ballet school...
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SOUTH AFRICAN DANCESOUTH AFRICAN DANCE
CAPE TOWN CITY BALLET
BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND
1934 Dulcie Howes began her own ballet school (This year is 70th anniversary)
1937 UCT Ballet School linked to College of Music.
1963 Performing Arts Councils set up by government to promote the Arts - became CAPAB Ballet Company
Moulded on the British system. Many dancers went to Royal ballet
DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT Colonial, lavish productions on the Nico
Malan Opera House Stage - 60 dancers 1969 David Poole became Director.
Influenced by Ninette de Valois, Frederick Ashton and Royal Ballet.
Poole encouraged young choreographer, Veronica Paeper who became resident choreographer in 1974 and director in 1990.
Currently directed by Professor Elizabeth Triegaardt
Political and Cultural Political and Cultural influencesinfluences
Strongly influenced by British BalletModelled on British training systemEurocentric, focused on classicsDuring apartheid era white only company
performing in white’s-only theatreChoreography did not reflect lives of South
Africans
Company style and approachCompany style and approach
Limited by apartheid policies Audience supported well known classical ballets New ballets less popular David Poole tried to introduce African themes and
started to train black dancers though his township project – today run by Phyllis Spira and Phillip Boyd – Dance for All
1994 funding ceased and became Cape Town City Ballet (22 dancers)
Began to commission South African choreographers and other dance forms
StarsStars
Phyllis Spira and Gary Burne were the most well-known dancers
Mzonke Jama was the first black ballet dancer
John Simon, Elizabeth Triegaardt, Eduard Greyling, Keith Macintosch and many other well-known dancers over the years
RepertoireRepertoire
Many classics such as Sleeping Beauty, Coppèlia, Romeo and Juliet,
Le Sylphide, Raymonda, Giselle, Nutcracker, Swan Lake and many
more – check their website!
Veronica Paeper: Classical Veronica Paeper: Classical choreographerchoreographer
Cinderella
Swan Lake
Classic highlights
THE NUTCRACKERTHE NUTCRACKER
Don QuixoteDon Quixote
Orpheus in the UnderworldOrpheus in the Underworld
Choreographed by Veronica PaeperMusic by Jaques OffenbachBased on Offenbach’s operettaPerformed at Artscape Theatre
SynopsisSynopsis Orpheus in the
Underworld is a highly comical ballet based on the Greek legend of Pluto, god of the Underworld, who falls in love with Eurydice, wife of Orpheus, and lures her to his kingdom
Paeper has based her ballet on Jacques Offenbach's operetta and sets the action in the 1920's with Pluto as the head of a Mafia-type underworld
Mafia
Orpheus in the UnderworldOrpheus in the Underworld
Orpheus' mother, Calliope, cast as “Public Opinion”
.
The Story:The Story:Act 1 : Hotel le GrandAct 1 : Hotel le Grand
Orpheus and Eurydice's marriage is not happy, so that when Pluto seduces and abducts Eurydice both she and Orpheus are delighted. However, when Calliope, Orpheus's mother, arrives and discovers what has happened, she is very shocked and demands, in the interest of mythology, that Orpheus goes to Olympus to seek assistance in claiming back Eurydice from the Underworld. Naturally, his mother insists on accompanying him.
Act 2 : OlympusAct 2 : Olympus
On Olympus life is a little boring and when Pluto reveals his latest conquest, Eurydice, it offers a welcome though somewhat unsettling divertion. Orpheus and Calliope arrive and Jupiter assents to her request for aid, whereupon all the gods and godesses decide to accompany them to Hades, the Underworld.
Act 3 : HadesAct 3 : Hades
Eurydice is now the star of the Underworld's night club. Just when all are enjoying themselves, Calliope spoils their fun by reminding Jupiter of their purpose. He commands Orpheus to leave, followed by Eurydice. But Offenbach intervenes and everything is thrown into confusion
All photographs and information taken from All photographs and information taken from the Cape Town City Ballet websitethe Cape Town City Ballet website
at at www.www.capetowncityballetcapetowncityballet.org..org.zaza
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