Dance seems to be leaping ahead in Gauteng if you take into account the many ballets and companies that have already been represented on our stages this year.
The Geneva Ballet (Grand Théâtre de Genève) debuts in Joburg from June 17 to 21 at the Mandela, Joburg Theatre .
After visits to Cape Town and the National Arts Festival, the world-renowned Geneva Ballet, under the direction of Philippe Cohen, opens on Wednesday June 17 with Roméo & Juliette at The Mandela, Joburg Theatre and runs till Sunday, June 21, for six shows only.
During its Joburg season the company will celebrate the anniversary of the 100th performance of this production.
Established in Switzerland in the early 19th century, the Geneva Ballet is known for its repertoire of neo-classical and contemporary dance styles featuring skilled classically trained dancers and top choreographers.
Joëlle Bouvier, one of several guest choreo-graphers invited by the Geneva Ballet to enrich its repertoire, has re-imagined Shakespeare’s classic tragedy as a contemporary piece, re-visiting the ballet in an inventive way. She has taken the essence of the story, its fundamental characteristics and choreographed around that rather than sticking strictly to the details of the play. She turns the sequence of the traditional classic upside down – conversely beginning with the funeral ceremony and working back to the beginning. It is driven musically by the strong, stirring music of the composer Prokofiev.
“Together, we unite our bodies into the gentleness and fury of this music; we let ourselves be inspired by the rhythm and its poetic nature to compose body movements, lifts, motions and fractures. All describe the passionate adventure of the two lovers”, says Bouvier.
The elegance of the costumes and the stage decor is offset by the vitality of the fight scenes, as the 22-dancer company create a dynamic energy and an eye-catching aesthetic.
“Bouvier has stripped down everything creating movement which, while technically challenging, innovative, and incredibly beautiful, never feels forced, and a plot consisting of only the most integral events. It is as if she were leaving it up to the viewer to decide the specifics of who these two people are, what defines them, and what draws them simultaneously together and apart; and, of course, these are the questions which make this story timelessly relevant.” – Ann Rogovoy, The Rogovoy Report (US).
The dance company is considered one of the most original in Europe, excelling in variations of the classical ballet vernacular through innovative artistic collaborations. With an average age of 25, Geneva Ballet features youthful dancers from around the world and includes the South African Angela Rebelo, niece of well-known South African actors Nicky Rebelo and Jennifer Steyn Rebelo.
As a major component of its two-week long visit to Joburg, the company, with a focus on choreography in a variety of forms and expression, will be involved in a collaborative project with South African choreographers and dancers. This project will involve local choreographers Gregory Maqoma, Mamela Nyamza, PJ Sabbagha and Fana Tshabalala with Nathanaël Marie from the Geneva Ballet and will take place at the Soweto Theatre, the Dance Space in Newtown, University of Johannesburg Arts & Culture and at the Hillbrow Theatre, from Monday to June to 14. The creative result of this collaboration will be showcased in partnership at the Soweto and Wits Theatres on June 13 and 14 respectively.
The Geneva Ballet Johannesburg 2015 visit has been made possible thanks to the support of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia. The Joburg season is a result of the collaboration between the Joburg Theatre, Geneva Ballet and Zelda Productions and with further support from the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa and the collaborative effort of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in South Africa. – Tonight Reporter
l Roméo & Juliette: June 17 to June 19: 8pm, June 20: 3pm & 8pm, June 21: 2pm. R180 to R350 at www.joburgtheatre.com or 0861 670 670. Discounts for groups of 10: 011 877 6853.