The name of South Africa’s newest ballet company is still under wraps, but a very special guest artist for the big launch isn’t.
Sierra Leone-born Michaela DePrince, co-star of the multi-award winning documentary film First Position, will make her professional debut in a full-length ballet as Gulnare in Le Corsaire on the Joburg Theatre’s Mandela stage. Funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund this production, celebrating the merging of The South African Ballet Theatre (SABT) and Mzansi Productions, is being staged by Angela Malan.
Seventeen-year-old DePrince, who is completing her studies at American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, will possibly be partnered in this lead role on the gala evening on July 19, by South African Andile Ndlovu. She has been contracted for two performances of this two-acter.
Ndlovu, who has danced the role of Ali the slave, at The Washington Ballet, where he is employed, has been commuting to New York to rehearse with DePrince and their distinguished coach, former Joburger Charla Genn, who serves on the Juilliard School faculty.
According to SABT’s Iain MacDonald (who is the artistic director designate) there will be a Skype rehearsal (linking New York and Joburg) run by Malan: “So we are all on the same page, and it is not a shock when she arrives here on July 7.”
DePrince’s return to African soil, to realise her dream of being a ballerina, is a very different scenario from when she was orphaned at three years old after her parents were killed in her war-torn homeland. The toddler was adopted by Elaine and Charles DePrince of New Jersey. She started ballet lessons when she was four at The Rock School in Philadelphia where she continued her training.
Three years ago Mzansi’s director Dirk Badenhorst (CEO designate of the merged entity), spotted this then 14-year-old dancer competing for a bursary at the Youth America Grand Prix in New York City. Her dynamism and personal story of how she treasured a ballerina image from a magazine, which blew up against the orphanage fence, made an indelible impression on the South African producer.
In April, while attending the 2012 Grand Prix, Badenhorst saw the young dancer, who guested on Dancing with the Stars that same month, in class and approached her mother. Why her? The answer: “She is enormously exciting. Young, fresh and black. That is very important in our country where race is an issue in any discussion with the ANC, the Department of Arts and Culture, or National Arts Council. Michaela appeals to everyone.”
Badenhorst explained that on returning to the US DePrince will be joining Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) which re-opened the then Johannesburg Civic Theatre in September 1992 in front of President Nelson Mandela.
This historic company reassembled this year under the artistic direction of former DTH prima ballerina Virginia Johnson. Badenhorst had discussions with DTH executive director, South African Laveen Naidu: “On so many levels this (initiative) is opening so many doors.”
The actual details of what the newcomer will comprise are still being formulated. Stated Badenhorst: “We will have a strong core, bring in ad hoc dancers and collaborate with other companies.”
This ballet company will cost R12 million (including outreach programmes in Soweto, Alexandra, Tembisa, Braamfontein, Melville, Sophiatown, Eersterust and Mamelodi) a year. A name sponsor is being negotiated. The new board will be a mix of the two existing boards. The three patrons – Mzansi’s Mary Slack and SABT’s Sir Sam Jonah and Tito Mboweni – will remain.
Badenhorst has bought the South African rights for 20 screenings of Bess Kargman’s acclaimed First Position which will have its South African premiere at the Joburg Theatre, before Le Corsaire, on Sunday, July 22. Tickets for the launch on July 19 at 7.30pm sell at R1 000 each.
This introductory season, which is now being cast, brings home Admill Kuyler, currently dancing in Germany. Their fans will welcome Australian Aaron Smyth (flying in from London’s Royal Ballet) and international guest artist, Canadian Alys Shee who sparkled last year in Mzansi’s International Ballet Gala and Don Quixote.
A whole new chapter is about to bourrée into South African dance history.
• Book for Le Corsaire, July 20 to 29, at www.joburgtheatre.com or 0861 670 670. For the fund-raising gala tickets, call Joanne Lowry at 076 788 9578 or 011 877 6899.