Celebrating relations
CUBAN and South African ballet dancers came together in the most extraordinary performance at the Lyric Theatre in Johannesburg this week, to celebrate 25 years of South Africauban relations.
In beautifully performed and perfectly choreographed numbers, the ballerinas took the collective breath away from a packed theatre of ballet lovers and friends of Cuba.
“A perfect mix of classical ballet with unusual modern performances that were completely captivating,” Sarah Ebrahim, one of the young members of the audience, said.
“I have never seen a ballet performance quite like it; it was beautiful,” said another ballet enthusiast.
The embassy of Cuba and the director of the International Ballet Competition of SA, Dirk Badenhorst, celebrated what can be called a cultural gala, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Cuba and South Africa co-operation, particularly in ballet, and the 25th anniversary of bilateral relations.
Rebeca Hernández of the embassy of Cuba highlighted the significant bilateral relations, friendship and co-operation between the two countries, and recognised all those who had been involved in the project of giving ballet instruction in Cuban methodology.
Vusumusi Mkhize, the directorgeneral of the Department of Arts and Culture, thanked Cuba for teaching ballet to South African children, and said this would be an area of cultural co-operation that would continue to rfeceive the support of the department to ensure its expansion.