Joburg Ballet presents debut season in Mother City
Dada Masilo’s Salomé will be featured alongside three other works in Joburg Ballet’s Scarcity at the Baxter’s Pam Golding Theatre from Thursday October 24 to Saturday October 26.
The season marks the full company’s first-ever visit to the Mother City.
In addition to Salomé, the Scarcity programme features works by Craig Pedro, Chinese-German choreographer Hannah Ma and Netherlands-based Spanish choreographer Jorge Pérez Martínez.
The Cape Town Scarcity season will feature one South African premiere, Azul, and three world premieres. While none of the choreographers will be performing in Scarcity, all will be present at the opening night on Thursday October 24.
Salomé draws from Oscar Wilde’s play, delving into themes of desire, power, and the destructive nature of unchecked passion. Masilo describes the work as an opportunity to craft a movement vocabulary that resonates with the company, bringing universal stories to life.
Craig Pedro’s Ukukhanya Kwenyanga: A Moonlight Waltz, set to the music of Johann Strauss and Pietro Mascagni, merges classical ballet with South Africa’s Xhosa aesthetics. His choreography, featuring dancers in romantic tutus adorned with Xhosa print and bead motifs, elegantly combines European dance styles with local cultural elements.
Award-winning choreographer Hannah Ma presents The Void, a moving exploration of the human soul set against a world in turmoil. Through stillness, joy, truth, and connection, The Void reminds us of the beauty of human existence.
Jorge Pérez Martínez’s Azul, a spirited and expressive work, evokes the fluidity of water and captures the atmosphere of the Mediterranean. Danced to classical Spanish guitar compositions, Azul features a beautiful pas de deux and showcases a dynamic, flowing dance language.
Commenting on Scarcity, Joburg Ballet CEO Elroy Fillis-Bell says the concept of scarcity resonates deeply with South Africans. “Whether it’s the lack of service delivery or the loss of dignity, scarcity shapes the social context of people’s lives. This programme explores the absence of natural and material resources, as well as the loss of memory, identity, and self.”
Evening performances are at 7pm, with matinees on Friday October 25 and Saturday October 26, at 11am and 2pm. Tickets range from R180 to R300 through Webtickets. Tickets for the 11am performances are R110, and discounts are available for senior citizens, students, groups of 10 or more, and children aged 4 to 7.
