Cape Ballet Africa celebrates its first birthday in March with a mesmerizing new triple bill, BREATHWORDS, as well as marking its debut at the prestigious Artscape Opera House.
BREATHWORDS features two choreographies by international creators, presented alongside an expanded version of South African choreographer, Kirsten Isenberg’s Reverie, which captivated audiences at its premiere in the Company’s inaugural season SALT.
BREATHWORDS will be performed at Artscape Opera House on 25 March, accompanied by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. The performances on 26 and 27 March will be performed with recorded music.
An ethereal masterpiece set to Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Isenberg has further developed Reverie to encompass all three movements of this iconic composition. Maggie Foyer for Dance Europe praised Reverie as ‘a ballet of gentle beauty.” Reverie is fast becoming a signature work of the company, swathed in a palette of blush pink, delighting audiences with its dreamlike meditation on movement and music.
“We are proud to announce that our first international commission for BREATHWORDS will be the world premiere of whispers from within, a ballet by globally acclaimed Dutch choreographer Wubkje Kuindersma,” says Debbie Turner, founder and artistic director of Cape Ballet Africa.
Wubkje is a choreographer based in The Netherlands. The past years she served as Creative Associate at Dutch National Ballet (2021- 2024), where she choreographed for the junior and main company. Known for her poetic and emotionally rich works, she has a background with ballet and contemporary dance, which allows her to create pieces that are both technically demanding and deeply expressive.
Kuindersma was among Dancemagazine USA’s Top 25 to watch list for 2019. Her duet Two and Only for Dutch National Ballet was internationally acclaimed and performed worldwide, with Marijn Rademaker being nominated for the Prix de Benois 2018 for his role in this work.
Her work has been well received by audience and press and her many accolades include 4 nominations and 2 awards for her full length ballet for West Australian Ballet Echoes of Van Gogh at West Australian Performing Arts Awards in 2024.
Debbie Turner adds “Dance is life, dance is breath, and so from this, we celebrate with Breathwords. Movements are the dancer’s word, the artist moves from one dance sentence to the next, their breath informing that direction, preparing their body and mind to determine their engagement in that next stage of movement. Breathwords also therefore feels a fitting name for Cape Ballet Africa’s new triple bill, at the start of our second year and a new journey in our studios at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA).”
“We are beyond excited to soon be sharing with you the details of our second international commission for Breathwords – watch this space for more!” concludes Turner.
BREATHWORDS offers an unforgettable ballet experience. Don’t miss this enchanting debut that redefines the boundaries of ballet.
WHAT: Cape Ballet Africa – BREATHWORDS
WHERE: Artscape Opera House, Foreshore, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: 25 Mar 2025 19:30 – performed with Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra | 26 & 27 Mar 2025 19:30 – performed with recorded music
TICKETS & BOOKING: R200 – R495 at Webtickets
INFO: Instagram Cape Ballet Africa | Facebook Cape Ballet Africa | Tik-Tok Cape Ballet Africa | Website
PHOTO: Joshua Williams – Photo Oscar O’Ryan (c)
Cape Ballet Africa is proud to be associated with Food Lover’s Market with their commitment to innovation and their values to….have faith, lead with love, be the miracle”.
Cape Ballet Africa is also grateful for the support of The Fine Fund, THEATRE DANCE ASSOCIATION (TDA), BASA, Ballet World, Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and CDIC (Cape Dance Injury Centre) and Southern Sun Hotels for hosting.
