Following a critically acclaimed season of DreamScapes at the Roodepoort Theatre, Joburg Ballet is taking this three-part showcase of the best in ballet on the road with a visit to Sasolburg’s Etienne Rousseau Theatre in May.
“We are thrilled to be bringing Joburg Ballet’s DreamScapes to Sasolburg and to be performing for new audiences,” says Joburg Ballet CEO Elroy Fillis-Bell. “DreamScapes comprises three ballets making up a transformative triple bill that showcases Joburg Ballet’s versatility and commitment to celebrating heritage, artistry, and innovation,” added Fillis-Bell. “The production won acclaim during the recent season at the Roodepoort Theatre and we are confident that Sasolburg will echo the applause of the Gauteng audiences.”
DreamScapes weaves together the timeless beauty of Les Sylphides, a deeply rooted spiritual narrative in Kitty Phetla’s new work, The Underworld and Elsewhere, and the electrifying vibrancy and poignant power of human resilience in Dane Hurst’s new work, Resonance. Together, these works form a rich tapestry of tradition, identity, and creative exploration, offering audiences an unforgettable dance experience that transcends the realms of reality.
A programme with cultural and artistic resonance, DreamScapes represents the interplay between tradition, ancestry and a forward-looking vision celebrating beauty and diversity. Each work in the programme offers a unique perspective on our shared humanity.
Les Sylphides is a cornerstone of classical ballet, transporting audiences to a dreamlike world of ethereal beauty. With choreography steeped in Romanticism and set to the emotive music of Frédéric Chopin, Les Sylphides, staged by Joburg Ballet’s ballet mistress Kim Vieira, provides a timeless meditation on grace and harmony. Its inclusion in DreamScapes roots the programme in the rich tradition of ballet, providing a foundation for the contemporary works that follow.
Kitty Phetla’s The Underworld and Elsewhere delves into the metaphysical ties between past, present and future. Inspired by the enduring presence of ancestral spirits and energies that live with and through us, this work invites audiences to journey into the unseen realms of existence. Phetla’s choreography resonates deeply with South Africa’s cultural and spiritual heritage, offering a poignant meditation on the interconnectedness of life across generations.
Resonance by Joburg Ballet’s artistic director Dane Hurst is a powerful new ballet that explores themes of resonant landscapes, diverse cultural connections and transformation, manifesting a vibrant vision of the future rooted in the lessons of the past. Driven by the sonic landscape of acclaimed South African composer Kyle Shepherd’s evocative album, South African History !X, Resonance takes inspiration from the energy, exuberance and community spirit cultivated within underground jazz clubs of historic melting-pot communities like South End, District Six and Sophiatown. This work celebrates the enduring power of music and dance to unite, heal and inspire freedom of expression.
With Kitty Phetla’s The Underworld and Elsewhere and Dane Hurst’s Resonance offering profound reflections on ancestry and cultural resonance, and Les Sylphides grounding the programme in the enduring beauty of classical ballet, DreamScapes celebrates the past, honours the present and imagines a brighter, more harmonious future.
DreamScapes information:
Venue: Etienne Rousseau Theatre, Sasolburg
Dates: Saturday 10 May and Sunday 11 May at 14h00
Ticket prices: R150 – R200
Book now at: www.ertickets.com
