Variety, stylistic distinction and choreographic spectacle will be in the spotlight from 9-13 March on the Mandela Stage at Joburg Theatre when the curtain rises on this year’s Dance Spectrum. Opening the programme is a suite from the romantic ballet The Pharaoh’s Daughter. “From our knowledge this is the first time that excerpts of this exotic ballet will be seen on stage in South Africa”, said Manuel Norambuena HOD of Dance at the NSA.
Composed by Cesare Pugni and choreographed by Petipa, the ballet opened to acclaim in St Petersburg in 1862 and then disappeared from the popular repertoire for almost a century.
However, this classical ballet has found renewed popularity this century with a number of spectacular revivals receiving popular and critical acclaim in Russia and beyond. “The Pharaoh’s Daughter with its varied dynamics, conjures the moods and mystique of Ancient Egypt, and provides a perfect vehicle to showcase the technical expertise of our wonderful young dancers”, added Norambueno.
Keeping with the spirit of the exotic is Baile Gitano, the newly choreographed Spanish dance number from the NSA’s Spanish dance teacher, Gillian Bonegio. Baile Gitano (gypsey dancing) tells the story of a group of tourists exploring the famous caves in Sacromonte in Granada, Spain. Many consider Granada to be the birthplace of Flamenco; it is therefore not surprising that while exploring the ancient cave dwellings the tourists encounter a group of passionate dancing gypsies.
Vanessa Lamb continues the Spanish theme in her Ballet Fiesta Española!
The NSA strives to partner with professionals wherever possible and this year the dancers were given the privileged opportunity to work with award-winning Sonnyboy Motau from Moving Into Dance Mophatong.
The premiere of his new commissioned work for the NSA, descriptively titled Shall We Dance, follows hot on the heels of both his full-length In the End, Is My Beginning which runs at the Market Theatre from 18-28 Feb and R&J:Rebellion which he co-choreographed with Jessica Nupen which launches Dance Umbrella on the 25th & 26th February.
Audiences are sure to be impressed by the learner choreography that has been included in this year’s Dance Spectrum line-up. These learners distinguished themselves in the NSA’s 2015 choreographic showcase – the aptly named Dance Celebration.
Matric learner Jana Rau is at the helm of the choreographic team responsible for the Grade 12 piece while Evelyn Mabikwa and Kamogelo Mofutsana have conceptualised and choreographed the exciting Altered Bones which promises to live up to the extraordinary promise of its creative team and the gifted company of NSA dancers as it explores the notion of going beyond the muscle movement.
Celebratory and eclectic, Dance Spectrum not only showcases the fine educators and gifted learners of the NSA Dance Department but illustrates the inspiring creative possibilities that lie at the confluence of different cultures. It is in this space that artists and audiences are seen to cross both cultural and artistic borders.
Dance Spectrum 2016 runs from 9-13 March as a flagship production of Festival of Fame. Regarded as SA’s Leading Youth Arts Festival, Festival of Fame is hosted and produced by The National School of the Arts with the support of Assitej and funding from RMB, The Arts and Culture Trust (ACT) and Business Arts South Africa (BASA).
The comprehensive Festival of Fame programme can be found at www.festivaloffame.co.za.
