Cape Town City Ballet Launches 80th Anniversary with THE FIREBIRD and LES SYLPHIDES, 1/19-2/16

Following a bumper festive season of magical ballet performances, Cape Town City Ballet proudly launches its 80th anniversary celebrations in 2014 with two splendid ballets performed in the idyllic open-air setting of Maynardville Park in Cape Town. The Firebird and Les Sylphides will be performed every Sunday, from 19 January until 16 February.

Last performed in Cape Town in 2010, the two ballets return to the enchanting stage of the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre and promise to delight audiences with captivating dance of the highest calibre. The Firebird, with music by Stravinsky and choreography by David Poole, tells the fairy tale of Kotchei, an evil magician, who casts a spell on anyone caught in his domain. Under his spell, he holds a group of young maidens, all royal princesses, in captivity at his castle. A magical Firebird is captured by the young prince Ivan Tzarevitch and she begs him to release her in exchange for a magical feather with which he can summon her aid at any time.

One evening, the prince sees the group of maidens playing in the moonlight and he falls in love with Tsarevna, one of the princesses. In pursuit of his love, the prince is waylaid by a horde of demons under Kotchei's spell, but the Firebird rescues him and he is re-united with his love. The ballet ends with a wedding scene where the Firebird blesses the marriage of the prince and princess. The roles of the Firebird and Prince will be danced by Kim Vieira (debut) partnering with Xola Putye; Laura Bosenberg with Thomas Thorne (debut); and Mami Fuji (debut) with Ivan Boonzaaier (debut).

Les Sylphides is the ultimate tribute to the great Romantic ballets. With picture-perfect ballerinas fluttering across the stage wearing long white tutus, it is sheer poetry in motion. Chopin's beautiful music sets the tone for the serene beauty of this ethereal and graceful ballet, which was produced by Cecily Robinson for the CAPAB Ballet Company. For this production the lead partnerships will be Laura Bosenberg, dancing with Thomas Thorne, and Angela Hansford partnering with Daniel Szybkowski - who debuts in the role of the Poet.

Cape Town City Ballet presents The Firebird and Les Sylphides at Maynardville Open-Air Theatre every Sunday at 8.15pm from19 January to 16 February 2014. Tickets at R110 / R120 / R13O are available at through COMPUTICKET or ARTSCAPE Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.