For the first time in nearly three decades, South Africa's premier classical ballet companies, Joburg Ballet and Cape Town City Ballet, are set to mesmerise audiences with the much-loved classic, Swan Lake. This landmark collaboration will see the two companies join forces to present the iconic ballet across four cities in a grand national tour this July and August.
The tour kicks off at the prestigious Joburg Theatre on Friday, 4 July, and will run through to Sunday, 13 July, during which the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany the dancers, playing Tchaikovsky's famed score. Following its opening in Johannesburg, the production will grace the stage at The Playhouse in Durban from 18 to 20 July, supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra. The tour will continue at the Sand du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein on 24, 25, and 26 July, with the Free State Symphony Orchestra providing musical accompaniment. Finally, the national tour will wrap up at the Cape Town International Convention Centre with performances on 1, 2, and 3 August, featuring the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.
Originally staged in Cape Town by French dancer Attilio Labis in 1971, the production of Swan Lake that will be performed during this tour has been restaged by acclaimed South African choreographer Veronica Paeper. This enduring tale of love and betrayal, which first debuted in Moscow in 1877, remains one of the pinnacles of classical ballet, often performed around the world by the most prestigious ballet companies and leading ballerinas of every generation.
Elroy Fillis-Bell, CEO of Joburg Ballet, expressed his excitement over this rare collaboration, stating, “Joburg Ballet is thrilled to be partnering with Cape Town City Ballet for the upcoming national tour. It gives us the opportunity to present a production of one of the great classical ballets on a scale appropriate to the classical tradition. The tour also aligns with Joburg Ballet’s ongoing endeavours to build closer ties with our sister companies and dance industry stakeholders in South Africa. We look forward to sharing stages across the country with Cape Town City Ballet.”
In a similar vein, Tracy Li, Artistic Manager of Cape Town City Ballet, shared her enthusiasm, remarking, “Swan Lake is a breathtakingly beautiful full-length classic. Cape Town City Ballet is excited to collaborate with Joburg Ballet to create magic and share this wonderful experience with audiences on a national tour. With much anticipation, we look forward to this exciting and meaningful collaboration, a celebration of appreciation and unity within this unique and powerful art form.”
This national tour promises not only a showcase of world-class talent but also a fusion of artistic creativity from two of South Africa's leading ballet institutions, bringing back to life the timeless story of Swan Lake for audiences hungry for the majesty and beauty that only ballet can offer.