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