Joburg Ballet sample programme 1 2017

1. March and April 2017

3. A Ballet in Three Acts
Choreography and Production by Veronica Paeper
Music from the opera La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi
Arranged and with additional music for the ballet by Allan Stephenson
Costume and Scenic Design by Peter Cazalet
Set Design co-ordinated by Vanessa Nicolau
Lighting Design by Simon King
Costumes on loan from Cape Town City Ballet
The Mandela at Joburg Theatre
31 March, 1, 7, 8 April at 7.30pm; 1, 2, 8, 9 April at 3pm; 4, 5 April at 11am 2017
Karen Beukes and Iain MacDonald in La Traviata – The Ballet, 2005 (Photo: Susanne Holbaek)
Front Cover: Burnise Silvius and Juan Pablo Ledo, 2017 (Photo: Lauge Sorensen)
It is regretted latecomers will not be seated until a suitable break in the performance. Please ensure that your cellphone is on silent.
Smoking is not permitted on the Theatre grounds except in designated areas. No recording equipment may be used, including cellphone cameras,
without prior arrangement with management. At the end of the performance please remain seated until the house lights are on.

5. MESSAGES
MESSAGE FROM ANNZIE HANCOCK
HONORARY LIFE PATRON
La Traviata – The Ballet is adapted
by celebrated South African
choreographer Veronica Paeper
from Verdi’s famous opera. A
tragedy based on the 19th centu-
ry novel The Lady of the Camellias,
it tells the story of Camille, a
woman suffering from consump-
tion who sacrifices everything for
the man she loves. On Sunday 9
April we will be privileged to
watch Burnise Silvius, Joburg Ballet’s Prima Ballerina, dance
the role of Camille. Sadly, the occasion will mark Burnise’s
final performance as she leaves the stage to pursue new
adventures in her life. Apart from her exquisite technique,
Burnise worked to perfect her artistry to become the
sublime dancer who graced our stages in many memorable
performances. Her loyalty to the company and to ballet
over the years was exemplary and she was always a treat to
watch. In saying farewell to Burnise, let us continue to
commit ourselves to supporting Joburg Ballet’s endeavours
to survive in difficult financial times and in so doing create
the setting in which future prima ballerinas will take their
place with pride.
MESSAGE FROM TITO T. MBOWENI
PATRON
My association with Joburg Ballet
as one of the company’s Patrons
goes back several years. During
this time I have seen the company
pass through difficulties and face
serious challenges but as the first
ballet season of 2017 opens,
Joburg Ballet is a vibrant part of
our cultural landscape and an
active and caring player in the
communities it serves. While
respectful of ballet’s traditions, the company is part of the
here-and-now, a truly South African institution with interna-
tional ties of which we should all be proud. I take this oppor-
tunity to extend to all at Joburg Ballet my best wishes for the
new ballet season.
MESSAGE FROM MARY SLACK
PATRON
Joburg Ballet is by no means a
large company but with every
ballet season, Joburg Ballet
grows in strength, confidence
and experience. When measured
against many companies around
the world as well as its predeces-
sor companies in South Africa, it is
small, both in terms of dancers
and support staff. Yet small and
challenged as our ballet company
is in so many ways, Joburg Ballet is a symbol of confidence,
optimism and affirmation in the future, a living part of our
cultural life that belongs not only to us but to the generations
to come. I salute Joburg Ballet and its sponsors for the
passion with which they face today and the faith and confi-
dence with which they face tomorrow.
MESSAGE FROM ESTHER NASSER
CEO
I am excited to be looking ahead
to my first full calendar year as
Joburg Ballet CEO and to see the
diverse mix of classic favourites
and new work on offer from the
company. La Traviata, with its
sweeping Verdi score and
wonderful choreography by the
renowned Veronica Paeper,
makes a welcome return to our
repertoire for this season. It’s
wonderful to be able to acknowledge an established South
African dance legend whose superb skill in narrative ballet
comes to life against the backdrop of new sets by Peter
Cazalet and design co-ordinator Vanessa Nicolau. Veronica’s
work represents a precious part of SA ballet heritage.
Following in Veronica’s footsteps are a number of estab-
lished and emerging choreographers, such as Joburg Ballet
artistic director Iain MacDonald whose Cinderella was such a
success last year. Iain is fast proving to be one of SA’s leading
classical choreographers, with his own style and vocabulary,
and we look forward to seeing his new production of Snow
White in October. For our season in July, we are taking the
bold step of collaborating with two other prominent Joburg
companies, Vuyani Dance Theatre and Moving Into Dance
Mophatong, with a new work showcasing the skill all three
companies have to offer. Big City, Big Dreams will highlight
the wealth of dance talent our country and our city can
produce. We hope you, our audience, will support us on this
journey as Joburg Ballet continues to offer world class dance
for a world class African city.
MESSAGE FROM IAIN MACDONALD
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Welcome to Joburg Ballet’s first
season of 2017. Veronica Paep-
er’s ballet, La Traviata, requires
fast, energetic footwork and the
beautifully choreographed pas
de deux, strength, control and
stamina. The dancers need to
draw on artistry, depth of
character and maturity to be
believable in their roles. It has
been a wonderful experience for
the company creating the magic and I trust you will enjoy the
performances with us. Special thanks to Veronica Paeper
(choreography), Peter Cazalet (set designer) and Simon
King (lighting designer) for their commitment and talent. We
welcome the return of guest artist Juan Pablo Ledo from
Buenos Aires while Cape Town City Ballet principal dancer
Daniel Szybkowski is with us for the first time. Also appear-
ing by permission of CTCB are Mark Goldberg, Revil Yon and
Craig Pedro. This production marks the end of a chapter for
prima ballerina Burnise Silvius who retires at the end of the
season. An artist who has brought many years of pleasure to
audiences in SA and abroad, Burnise will be missed on stage.
I thank her for the many years of commitment, dedication
and professionalism she has so generously given to Joburg
Ballet. Thank you to our audiences for supporting Joburg
Ballet and to the Board, Friends of the Ballet and devoted
sponsors who continue to help us bring this amazing art
form to life.

6. Joburg Theatre
28 July – 6 August
Book at webtickets.co.za
0861 670 670
Early Bird Booking
Book before 5 June and
save a massive 30%
Big City,
Big Dreams

7. Camille Burnise Silvius / Shannon Glover /
Claudia Monja
Armand Juan Pablo Ledo / Michael Revie /
Daniel Szybkowski
M Germont, his father Iain MacDonald / Michael Revie
Baron Douphol Marc Goldberg
Mme Flora Kitty Phetla / Sanmarie Kreuzhuber
Gaston, friend of Thabang Mabaso /
Armand Ivan Domiciano / Craig Pedro
Pierre, friend of Laurance James / Sergi Castello /
Armand Ruan Galdino / Revil Yon
Annina, Camille’s Jessica Lombard / Luisa Higgo /
maid Shana Dewey
Gypsies Shannon Glover / Monike Cristina /
Angela Revie / Shana Dewey /
Sanmarie Kreuzhuber
Michael Revie / Ruan Galdino /
Sergi Castello / Ivan Domiciano /
Thabang Mabaso / Revil Yon
Ladies, Gentlemen, Artists of Joburg Ballet
Courtesans, Visitors,
Servants, Friends
The action takes places in Paris and in Provence
ACT I
Scene 1: The Germont household in Provence
Armand takes leave of his family.
Scene 2: Madame Flora’s Salon
The ladies of the house are entertaining their gentlemen
visitors. Armand’s friends, Pierre and Gaston, bring him to
the house against his will. Camille returns from the opera
with Baron Douphol. Armand and Camille meet and she
gives him a camellia, inviting him to visit her when the
flower has faded.
Scene 3: Camille’s boudoir
INTERVAL
ACT II
A House in the Country
Camille and Armand are living happily together, but unbe-
known to Armand, Camille is selling her jewellery to
support them. Friends invite them to a picnic, but Camille is
not well and remains at home. Armand’s father, M
Germont, arrives and tells Camille that if she truly loves
Armand she will leave him so as to maintain the honour and
good name of the Germont family. In great distress she
leaves the house in haste. She writes a letter to Armand
and explains that as she must live with a man of means, she
is leaving him. Unaware of his father’s visit, Armand
returns from the picnic and realizes that Camille has left
him. His father tries to comfort him.
ACT III
Scene 1: Madame Flora’s Salon
A scene of jollity, mirth and gambling unfolds in the salon.
Camille is back on the arm of Baron Douphol when Armand
walks in and interrupts the party by insulting Camille.
Scene 2: Camille’s boudoir, some months later
His father has told Armand the truth of Camille’s leaving
him, but it is too late as Camille is dying.
Please see separate sheet for this performance • Casting subject to change
Marie Duplessis, born Alphonsine Plessis, a Norman
peasant, became one of the most notorious courtesans of
Paris in the early 1840s. One of her lovers was the young
Alexandre Dumas but the affair lasted only eleven months
and on 3 February 1847 Marie died of consumption at the
age of twenty-four.
On hearing of her death, Dumas wrote a novel fictionaliz-
ing their relationship, and in 1848 it was published. Because
of its great success and because it was common to do so at
the time, Dumas adapted the book into a play but owing to
censorship the production was postponed and the
premiere only took place on 3 February 1852, five years to
the day after the death of Marie.
In this, the Romantic Age, literary and performing arts
usually addressed the exotic and the supernatural:
monsters in Frankenstein (1818), Sylphs in La Sylphide (1832),
and Wilis in Giselle (1841) were the order of the day. La Dame
aux Camélias was an extraordinary novel for its time, not
only presenting a story of contemporary characters but
having a courtesan as the heroine and treating her with
compassion when the prostitute was seen as the ultimate
fallen woman, spreading a “miasmatic mist of disease and
corruption” in a society of strict moral standards.
Another aspect of the story which would have caught the
imagination of Dumas’ mid-19th century audience was the
fact that the Romantics had a macabre fascination with
sufferers of tuberculosis and to “wear a consumptive
appearance” was extremely fashionable. Dumas’ heroine
suffered from this illness, so death was imminent and that,
with the possible redemption of her sins by the sacrifice of
her great love for the honour of her lover’s family, made
the story more socially acceptable and indeed extremely
popular, as it has remained to this day.
Dumas renamed the heroine Marguerite Gautier in his
literary works. In Verdi’s La Traviata (1853) became Violetta
Valery and in the 1930s Greta Garbo immortalized her in the
film Camille directed by George Cukor. Whichever name we
use, the character of this courtesan continues to fascinate
interpreters, directors, choreographers and audiences
worldwide. Veronica Paeper
THE CAST
THE STORY
CHOREOGRAPHER’S NOTE

8. Photographs by Susanne Holbaek
LA TRAVIATA: PREVIOUS SEASONS
Angela Malan and Christian TatchevLauryn Summerley and Michael Revie
Burnise Silvius and Guillaume CôtéLauryn Summerley and Andries Weidemann
Anya Carstens
Margaret Illmann and Andries Weidemann

9. Photographs by Lauge Sorensen
LA TRAVIATA 2017
Burnise Sivius and Juan Pablo Ledo Shannon Glover
Michael Revie
Claudia Monja and Daniel Szybkowski

10. Burnise Silvius and Jonathan Rodrigues
Photo: Susanne Holbaek
Did you know you can support Joburg Ballet with every swipe of your
MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card? To apply for a new card, or add
us to your beneficiaries on your existing card, just log in at
www.myschool.co.za

11. THE COMPANY
Burnise Silvius
Prima Ballerina
Shannon Glover
Principal
Michael Revie
Principal/Ballet Master
Nicole Ferreira-Dill
Senior Soloist
Kitty Phetla
Senior Soloist
Angela Revie
Senior Soloist
Sergi Castello
Soloist
Monike Cristina
Soloist
Shana Dewey
Soloist
Ivan Domiciano
Soloist
Sanmarie Kruezhuber
Soloist
Ruan Galdino
Senior Corps
Thabang Mabaso
Senior Corps
Megan Gerber
Corps de Ballet
Laurance James
Corps de Ballet
Alice le Roux
Corps de Ballet
Kyle Baird
Junior Corps
Jessica Hurwitz
Junior Corps
Savannah Ireland
Junior Corps
Cristina Nakos
Junior Corps
Mahlatse Sachane
Junior Corps
Jessica Lombard
Ad Hoc
Krystal Coetzee
Aspirant
Claudia Monja
Senior Soloist
Luisa Higgo
Aspirant
Tumelo Lekana
Aspirant
Sibusiso Mtsweni
Aspirant

12. Wednesday 19 April to Sunday 23 April 2017
Joburg Ballet Studios, Joburg Theatre
Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Join us for a fun filled-week of classes in ballet,
repertoire, contemporary dance, stretching,
pas de deux, pointe work, Pilates
and much more! The week culminates in
a performance by all participants
on Sunday 23 April.
F E E S
Juniors: R1700 (mornings only)
Junior Group A (Age 6-8),
Junior Group B (Age 9-11)
Seniors: R2700
(mornings & afternoons)
Senior Group A (Age 12-14),
Senior Group B (Age 15-18)
30 participants per group
so early booking advised.
To book call Edgar Moagi
on 011-877 6898 or
edgar@joburgballet.com
JOBURG BALLET
AUTUMN SCHOOL

13. Lauren Slade
Ballet Mistress
Kabelo Modiga
General Manager
Chase Bosch
Company Manager
Kevin Hurter
Stage and Logistic
Manager/
Assistant to the CEO
Jonathan Hurwitz
Publications
Administrator
Fiona Walsh
PR & Publicity
Keke Chele
JBS Co-ordinator
Khanya Titus
Financial Accountant
Edgar Moagi
Ticketing &
Office Manager
Kenny Mbele
Company Driver
Nozipho Mhlambi
School Coordinator
and PA to CEO &
Artistic Director
Emmanuel Madavha
Offi ce Administrator
and Company Driver
Lerato Letlape
Assistant Stage
Manager and
Company Assistant
Tshego Masoabi
Development
Prog Teacher
Joanne Wyngaard
Development
Prog Teacher
Haydee Baker
Wardrobe Co-ordinator
Evancina Mokwebo
Head Seamstress
Marc Goldberg*
Guest Artist
Juan Pablo Ledo**
Guest Artist
Craig Pedro*
Guest Artist
Daniel Szybkowski*
Guest Artist
*Appears by permission of Cape Town City Ballet
**Appears by permission of Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires
THE COMPANY
Revil Yon*
Guest Artist
Veronica Paeper
Choreographer

14. THANK YOU
Ad Outpost • Air France • Air Products South Africa •
Altron • Anne Wilkinson • Annzie Hancock • Avis • Bill
Zurich • Carolynne Waterhouse • City of Johannesburg •
Edgar Droste Trust • Edgars Club • Edith Venter • Evan
Speechley • Falcon and Hume • Friends of the Ballet • Hyde
Park Corner • Joburg Ballet Board of Directors • Joburg
City Theatres • Kaya FM • KPMG • Ladies and Gentlemen of
the Media • Lanlogix • Lauge Sorensen • MAC • Mango •
Mary Slack • Members of Hall Of 1000 Stars • Minit Print
and Tshwane Press • My School • Neale Quilliam • News-
clip Media Monitoring • Pattington Flowers and Gifts •
Rand Merchant Bank • SABT Trust • TBWA Hunt Lascaris •
The MacKenzie Foundation • The Mary Oppenheimer and
Daughters Foundation • The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust
• Tito T. Mboweni • Travel With Flair • Val Whyte Commit-
tee • Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema • Yellowwood
Join the Joburg Ballet Mailing List and be kept up to date
with all the company's productions, news and activities.
Send an email requesting to be added to the
Mailing List to: jonathan@joburgballet.com
Programme compiled by Jonathan Hurwitz
JOBURG BALLET Joburg Theatre, Hoofd Street, Braamfontein / PO Box 291990, Melville 2109, South Africa
Tel 011-877 6898, Fax 011-877 6864; info@joburgballet.com; www.joburgballet.com
INCORPORATED UNDER S21: 2001/016254/08; NPO 016-403
HONORARY LIFE PATRON: Mrs Annzie Hancock • PATRONS: Mr Tito T. Mboweni, Mrs Mary Slack • BOARD OF DIRECTORS: David
Blyth,
Salome Brown Gooding, James Campbell (Chair), Iain MacDonald (Artistic Director), Ishmael Mkhabela, Esther Nasser (CEO) Cedric
Ntumba, Grant Rogerson, Mabutho Kid Sithole, Coenraad Visser • SABT TRUST: James Campbell (Chairman), Annzie Hancock, Jenni
Newman, Mbali Dlamini, Iain MacDonald, Don MacRobert
Attorneys: Falcon and Hume • Auditors: KPMG • Joburg Ballet Academy: Iain MacDonald, Burnise Silvius, Jenny Barlow (Advisor) •
Joburg Ballet School: Keke Chele (Co-ordinator), Thabang Mabaso • Joburg Ballet School Satellites: Tshego Masoabi, Joanne
Wyngaard • Guest Teachers: Natasha Ireland, Anya Segal
For La Traviata – The Ballet
Technical Director: Vanessa Nicolau • Set and props constructed by Innovation and Hedgehog • Set painted by Eloise Millward •
Stage Manager: Vanessa Nicolau • Trainee Stage Manager: Kevin Hurter • Trainee Props Assistant: Lerato Letlape • Stage Technicians:
Donald Gololo, Samuel Sebola, Simon Motena, Mike Mokwena, Jo Sathegke, Marlon Mothwa, Sandile Ngema, Edwin Hadebe
JOBURG CITY THEATRES
Chief Executive Officer: Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema • Chief Operating Officer: Bridget Mashika • Chief Financial Officer: Solomon
Mphakathi • Executive Producer: Claire Pacariz • Artistic Manager: Makhaola Ndebele • Production Manager: Simon James •
Technical Manager: Enos Ramoroko • General Manager: Catering and Hospitality: Branden Karim • Marketing Executive: Khushu
Koloti • General Manager: Building and Security: Pierre Pretorius • Occupational Health & Safety Manager: Lieb Venter • Customer
Services Manager: Justine Lipson • Theatre Manager: Mogapi Mokgautsi • Company Secretary: Philipa Maduka
JOBURG CITY THEATRES
A Municipal Entity of the City of Joburg
Board of Directors: Nkopane Maphiri (Chairperson), Stella Baloyi, Amanda Forsythe, Ashley Hayden, Mpho Lecoge, Mpumelelo
Makhabela, Makhosazana Mbatha, Thabo John Moitsheki, Solomon Mphakathi, Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema, Junior Ramovha, Dr
Theophilus Tshisaphang
JOBURG BALLET IS GRATEFUL FOR PLEDGES OF SUPPORT RECEIVED FROM:
Jeremy Clowes • Richard Clowes • Rosa Dougherty • Corinne Du Toit • Biddy Faber • Leigh Gresham Levick • Dr Mary-Anne
Harrop-Allin • Mickie Jacobs • John Ludwig • Jonathan Lurie • Jacko Maree • Nigel Matthews • Kathleen Sowersby • Lindsay Tager
• Mr & Mrs Wilkinson • Angela Wilson
CREDITS

15. WWW.KAYAFM.CO.ZA EVENTS | TRAVEL | COMMUNITY | SOCIAL | MEDIA | FAMILY | FUN
SO MUCH
MORE THAN
RADIO
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16. BURNISE SILVIUS
Prima Ballerina
Thank You
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