A Spartacus of Africa, featuring the original music of Khachaturian, will be presented for a limited season at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre from 22 to 26 November 2016.
Renowned choreographer Veronica Paeper has re-designed her original ballet that she created for CAPAB Ballet in 1984, in wich she incorporates contemporary dance with classical ballet. This production was made possible by a grant of R949 000.00 from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).
Casey Swales and Elzanne Crause reprise their roles (as Amari and Payola) that they danced to great acclaim at the world premier season of A Spartacus of Africa in 2015.
Also dancing the lead roles (Amari and Fayola) will be Cuban ballet stars who are currently members of Joburg ballet, Juan Carlos Osma and Dayana Acuna. She shares this role with Capetonian, Elzanne Crause. Osma and Acuna are both Cuban and appear by kind permission of Joburg Ballet.
It’s long been Paeper’s ambition to reproduce this ballet – arguably her finest. Drawn to the similarity between Rome’s treatment of their captives and the many downtrodden peoples in Africa, Paeper has given the ballet a mythical African slant, naming it, A Spartacus of Africa. The South African National Dance Trust (SANDT) is thrilled to bring this romantic and dynamic two-act ballet to Stellenbosch.
The story mirrors the original ballet about slaves fighting for freedom, Spartacus’s deep love for his wife Phrygia and Aegina’s guile helping her lover, Crassus, to quell the revolt. The tale makes ideal material for an exciting ballet and love story calling for a technically strong cast able to act. Nelson Mandela’s fight for freedom for which he and others were prepared to die, links to the message behind Spartacus. It is also relevant to several states in Africa.
A key element of SANDT’s strategy is to include local communities in as many aspects of the production as possible and to mentor up-and-coming talent.
Part of the set was constructed by a group of Masiphumulelo women plaiting thousands of recycled green plastic bags into vines. Another project involved City Varsity students filming an educational documentary about bringing a ballet of this magnitude to the stage. The eight-minute DVD illustrates the diverse disciplines involved and forms an inspiring introduction for previously disadvantaged learners who will attend the final dress rehearsal at each theatre.
WHERE & WHEN: The season at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch runs from 22 to 26 November at 8:15pm with tickets from R200 to R220. Group and special discounts are available. All bookings can be made through Computicket or 08619158000.
PHOTO: Alfonzo Freemantle as Isenyaya and Elzanne Crause as Nadira taken by Danie Coetzee
