Cape Town City Ballet presents award-winning ‘Ingoma’ at the Artscape
CAPE Town City Ballet will present the South African premiere of Mthuthuzeli November’s Olivier Award-winning Ingoma as part of its Autumn Season at the Artscape.
The performances in the Artscape Opera House, on from May 19, will be strictly limited to 250 seats due to social distancing.
Commissioned by Cassa Pancho for Ballet Black in London, and choreographed by South African-born November, Ingoma collected prestigious awards including the Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production as well as Best Dance Production at the Black British Theatre Awards, following its 2019 premiere at the Barbican Theatre and run at the Lindbury Theatre at the Royal Opera House.
Ingoma is a fusion of ballet, African dance and song, engaging in a universal theme about being human. Inspired by the artwork of Gerard Sekoto, it explores the milestone Witwatersrand miners’ strike of 1946, imagining the struggles of black miners and their loved ones as thousands of miners embarked on strike action for better wages.
In juxtaposition to this visceral work, audiences will be able to enjoy the pastoral fantasy of Les Sylphides. Sylphs of imaginary spirits dance in the moonlight with the “poet” to the composition of Frederic Chopin.
This quintessential romantic reverie, with choreography by Mikhail Fokine, will be staged by British ballet luminary Lynn Wallis, who was artistic director of the Royal Academy of Dance for 22 years.
“Audiences can enjoy a second programme of breath-taking classical and neo-classical ballet with the return of Cape Town City Ballet – Back On Stage, following sold-out houses in Cape Town and Durban,” Cape Town City Ballet said in a statement.
The double bill features George Balanchine’s Serenade, performed to music by Tchaikovsky and staged by Rebecca Metzger for the George Balanchine Foundation.
It’s accompanied by Moon Behind The Clouds, a suite of works made during the time of Covid-19, by leading South African choreographers Veronica Paeper, Kirsten Isenberg, Yaseen Manuel, Lindy Raizenberg and Marlin Zoutman.
The lyrical dancing and moving imagery is laced together through the timeless text of Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata, narrated by acclaimed performer Marcel Meyer.
Nathalie Vijver is the work’s dramaturg.
Established as the Nico Malan Theatre in 1971, the Artscape building is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
“We will be marking two momentous occasions with the opening of our Autumn Season at Artscape,” said Cape Town City Ballet chief executive Debbie Turner.
“On May 19, 1971, the venue opened with a performance by Capab, the ballet company of the time. It’s fitting that we use this opportunity to recognise not only how far we’ve come and the changes that have taken place, but also the next 50 years of ballet on the Artscape stage, and how dance can lead the way in championing change and extending boundaries,” said Turner.
Ingoma and Les Sylphides will be presented on May 19, 22, 27, 28 and June 3, 4 and 5 at 7.30pm, with matinees on May 22 and 29 at 3pm.
Cape Town City Ballet – Back On Stage will be presented on May 26 and 29 and June 2 at 7.30pm, with a matinee on June 5 at 3pm.
Tickets are R300 for the evening performances and R250 for the matinee. Bookings can be made at Artscape Dial-a-seat 021 421 7695 or through Computicket.