Flamenco swirl to set the night alight

NOW that the schools are back, it’s showbiz as usual as the year slowly starts to get going. First up is the Bonegio Spanish Dance Company, with Sentimientos opening at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square today and running until Thursday.

Sentimientos means “feelings and emotions” and that is what will be conveyed by the seven dancers accompanied on guitar by flamenco guitarists Raul and Fernando Bonegio.

From Friday to Sunday next week the third annual Jazz and Blues Weekend will be held at the Sandton venue with local musicians and two visitors from Belgium, organ and electric guitar virtuoso Dirk van der Linden and the bluesy Jean van Lint. It is produced by Tony Yoko.

From January 27, Cat Simoni sings Judy Garland numbers in Cat Sings Judy! at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square. The songs include Over the Rainbow, Strike Up the Band and Get Happy.

On Thursday, The Greatest Love of All – The Whitney Houston Show, starring Belinda Davids accompanied by a live band, opens at the Joburg Theatre. The show features more than 20 of Houston’s hits, including I Will Always Love You, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Didn’t We Almost Have It All, I’m Every Woman, Exhale (Shoop Shoop), and Million Dollar Bill.

On Friday, comedian Marc Lottering is at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City for one night, performing his favourite material from his many shows.

At Montecasino, The Rocky Horror Show is on the go until the end of the month. Coming up from February 4 is Alan Committie is Alive with the Sound of Laughter, his all-new comedy show.

Later in the year, Lord of the Dance returns to the Teatro, not the Joburg Theatre as I said last week. I apologise for the error.

The Johannesburg International Mozart Festival begins next Saturday and runs until February 8, with concerts, workshops, masterclasses and collaborations.

Among the festival’s guest performers are Sir James Galway, Melvyn Tan and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra.

The Barnyard Theatres are launching new programmes for the new year at all their venues this week.

You can rock to music from all the eras with Platinum Jukebox, 99 Hits and tributes to Neil Diamond and Elvis.

Jenny de Klerk is editor of Artslink.co.za