Cape Ballet Africa celebrates first birthday and debut at Artscape Opera House with mesmerizing triple bill

Cape Ballet Africa celebrates its first birthday in March with a mesmerizing new triple bill, as well as marking its debut at the prestigious Artscape Opera House.

Breathwords features two choreographies by international creators, presented alongside an expanded version of South African choreographer, Kirsten Isenberg’s Reverie, which captivated audiences at its premiere in the Company’s inaugural season SALT.

Breathwords will be performed at Artscape Opera House on 25 March, accompanied by the  Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. The performances on 26 and 27 March will be performed with recorded music.

An ethereal masterpiece set to Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Isenberg has further developed Reverie to encompass all three movements of this iconic composition. Maggie Foyer for Dance Europe praised Reverie as ‘a ballet of gentle beauty.’ Reverie is fast becoming a signature work of the company, swathed in a palette of blush pink, delighting audiences with its dreamlike meditation on movement and music.

Debbie Turner, founder and artistic director of Cape Ballet Africa, says:

“We are proud to announce that our first international commission for BBreathwords will be the world premiere of whispers from within, a ballet by globally acclaimed Dutch choreographer Wubkje Kuindersma.”

“Wubkje explores the beauty and power of human connection through her work, with elegance, emotion and artistry, celebrating the transformative power of dance and music. We are honoured to be staging her first production in Africa, the continent of her birth.”

Wubkje is a choreographer based in The Netherlands. The past years she served as Creative Associate at Dutch National Ballet (2021- 2024), where she choreographed for the junior and main company.

Known for her poetic and emotionally rich works, she has a background with ballet and contemporary dance, which allows her to create pieces that are both technically demanding and deeply expressive.

Kuindersma was among Dancemagazine USA’s Top 25 to watch list for 2019. Her duet Two and Only for Dutch National Ballet was internationally acclaimed and performed worldwide, with Marijn Rademaker being nominated for the Prix de Benois 2018 for his role in this work.

Kuindersma graduated at Codarts, and has danced with companies such as Nürnberg Ballet, Djazzex, Gulbenkian Ballet, McGregor’s Random Dance and Danish Dance Theatre.  She has choreographed for Dutch National Ballet and its Junior Company, Korzo & NDT, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Ballet Dortmund, West Australian Ballet, BalletX, Danish Dance Theatre, Skanes Dansteater, Ballet Kiel, Noverre – Stuttgart Ballet, National Youth Ballet of John Neumeier, Hessisches Staatsballet, Dutch National Ballet Academy, and many others.

Her work has been well received by audience and press and her many accolades include 4 nominations and 2 awards for her full length ballet for West Australian Ballet Echoes of Van Gogh at West Australian Performing Arts Awards in 2024.

Kuindersma says:

“Dance is a universal language wherever you are in the world, and I am thrilled to be here connecting with the beautiful, generous and engaged dancers at Cape Ballet Africa to create this new work.”

“I am interested in exploring our inner whispers and to discover how those whispers connect us to others. I have set the work to Summer and Spring of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons recomposed by Max Richter, which for me resonates the whispers from within.”

Debbie Turner adds

“Dance is life, dance is breath, and so from this, we celebrate with Breathwords. Movements are the dancer’s word, the artist moves from one dance sentence to the next, their breath informing that direction, preparing their body and mind to determine their engagement in that next stage of movement.  Breathwords also therefore feels a fitting name for Cape Ballet Africa’s new triple bill, at the start of our second year and a new journey in our studios at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA).”

“We are beyond excited to soon be sharing with you the details of our second international commission for Breathwords – watch this space for more!”

‘It’s always thrilling to watch a performance from totally committed dancers, and SALT, Cape Ballet Africa’s inaugural performance, was this but so much more…a company classically trained and truly African‘ Maggie Foyer, Dance Europe

Breathwords offers an unforgettable ballet experience. Don’t miss this enchanting debut that redefines the boundaries of ballet.

Show Information:
Breathwords

Venue:
Artscape Opera House

Dates & Times:
25 – 27 March 2025 at 19h30

Ticket Prices:
From R200 – R495 (including VAT)

Bookings: 
Bookings through Webtickets or (021) 685 7880
also available at Pick n Pay Stores

Duration:
2 hours with 30min interval

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About Cape Ballet Africa
Cape Ballet Africa celebrates cultural values imbued through dance, instilling the discipline of classical ballet while blending in the exciting heritage of South African culture. The Company identity strongly aligns with the global dance landscape while building a proudly African organisation.

Cape Ballet Africa seeks to reimagine how ballet can look in Africa, using the interplay of identity and culture, the diversity in all elements of the artform; the people and the repertory.

Cape Ballet Africa produces performances that are bold and strongly rooted in the classical ballet technique, with exceptional quality front-and-centre as an inherent part of the artistic identity. It is founded in discipline and self-expression, individuality in teamwork, with a distinctive elegance, refinement and audacious grace.

Established by highly respected dance figure Debbie Turner, Cape Ballet Africa will, through performance excellence and ongoing professional development of artists, inspire new generations to appreciate an artform that demands much of the human spirit, gives much back to the human spirit and fosters a broad appreciation and following within the African diaspora. Innovation and collaboration are core focuses within the operation of the Company, with unique voices already a hallmark of its daily functioning, both within the cast and the creative minds.

Education and upskilling of young apprentice professional artists working with more experienced artists will also be a focus for the new company.

Cape Ballet Africa is honoured to include Dr Connie September, Diane Van Schoor and Thoriso Magongwa as the company’s Patrons.