Giselle – Tammy Higgins. Photo: Lauge Sorensen.

Joburg Ballet launches 25th Anniversary Season in time for Valentine’s Day with Giselle.

Wednesday 3 December: After an absence of more than six years, Giselle, the most sublime of all romantic ballets, returns to the stage of the Joburg Theatre when Joburg Ballet presents five performances of the beloved classic from Thursday 12 February to Sunday 15 February.

Giselle is being staged by SA-born, Europe-based Angela Malan, acclaimed former ballerina and now an admired international ballet teacher, coach and producer. Working with her as she prepares the production for the stage are Joburg Ballet’s ballet mistress, Kim Vieira and assistant producers Nicole Ferreira-Dill and Karen Beukes MacDonald. Appropriately for this 25th anniversary production of Giselle, both Ferreira-Dill and Beukes MacDonald had distinguished careers as principal dancers with Joburg Ballet.

Giselle launches Joburg Ballet’s impressive 25th Anniversary Season, marking the Silver Jubilee of the company’s founding in 2001. Giselle was the first ballet presented by the newly created Joburg Ballet, known then as South African Ballet Theatre and has been a pillar of the company’s repertoire over the years. It was last staged by Joburg Ballet in 2019.

A heartrending story of love so powerful it reaches from beyond the grave, Giselle’s exquisite dancing lays bare a tale of passion, betrayal and forgiveness with one of the greatest of all ballerina roles at its centre.

Joburg Ballet dancers sharing the title role during the season are principals Tammy Higgins (role debut), Ryoko Yagyu and Monike Cristina. In the leading male role of Albrecht, audiences will see Revil Yon with Higgins, Ivan Domiciano (role debut) with Yagyu and Bruno Miranda (role debut) with Cristina.

As the icy Queen of the Wilis, audiences can choose from Savannah Ireland and Gabriella Ghiaroni (role debut) while Hilarion will be danced by Gabriel Fernandes and Mario Gaglione (role debut).

In addition to the four leading roles, the ballet also provides a showcase for dancers in supporting roles as well as a massed corps de ballet which appears in the ghostly second act to chilling effect.

The Giselle season aligns perfectly with Valentine’s Day in February, with performances of the ballet scheduled for the Valentine’s Day weekend, the ballet’s theme of love triumphant making it the ideal opportunity to celebrate with loved ones. There are two performances of Giselle on Valentine’s Day on Saturday 14 February at 14:00 and 19:00.

Giselle:
Booking Information
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg
Dates and Times:
Thursday 12 February at 19:00,
Friday 13 February at 19:00,
Saturday 14 February at 14:00,
Saturday 14 February at 19:00,
Sunday 15 February at 14:00
Ticket Prices: R250 – R670
Booking: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1492531631

Media queries, images, interviews and accreditation:
Di Sparks, Behind the Scenes Communications | 073 208 8483 | disparks@artslink.co.za

Di Sparks
disparks@artslink.co.za
073 208 8483
Joburg Ballet
http://www.joburgballet.com