In September Joburg Ballet adds a uniquely SA production of the popular Nutcracker to the repertoire in a season also featuring the company’s first staging of the classic La Bayadère. Joburg Ballet’s first “double season” with these two mainstream productions takes place at the Joburg Theatre from 12 to 28 September.
With its glittering music by Tchaikovsky, staging by choreographer Adèle Blank and sets by Andrew Botha, The Nutcracker Re-Imagined brims with matchless entertainment, theatrical pizzazz and circus tricks – designed for Joburg Ballet by SircuSynergy – that will appeal to those who love ballet the traditional way as well as those looking for something new and out of the ordinary. To give The Nutcracker Re-Imagined its unique flavour, the ballet sparkles with touches as South African as cool watermelon on a hot summer afternoon.
Iconic South African settings and symbols, from sangomas to rock paintings to gumboots to koeksisters, strelitzias and baobab trees, place a local-is-lekker imprint on a ballet traditionally identified with such un-South African symbols as a snowy northern Christmas and nutcrackers shaped like imperial toy soldiers.
Joburg Ballet has designed a new special booking package, the Ballet Combo, to give audiences a wider range and enhanced value for money. The Ballet Combo allows ticket buyers to benefit from a 20% discount when booking for both The Nutcracker Re-Imagined and La Bayadère at the same time. Commenting on the special discounts offered to ticket buyers, Joburg Ballet CEO Dirk Badenhorst said: “With our range of special offers and ticket discounts, Joburg Ballet is striving to make it possible for more people to experience the magic and beauty of ballet and to allow ballet to a become a family-friendly and inclusive outing in Gauteng.”