Friday evening found me in Johannesburg at the International Ballet Gala, presented by uber ballet entrepreneur Dirk Badenhorst, at the splendid Teatro at Montecasino. The season, only 5 performances long (28-30 June), was a tribute to one of the greatest names in Classical Ballet, Alicia Alonso, & she herself was in the audience of 1,800. It was an unforgettable night as top dancers from SA & around the world ~ Cuba, China, the USA, Russia, Australia & more ~ paid homage to Madame Alonso, dancing spectacularly in pas de deux & solo variations that had me screaming Bravo every 5 seconds! The cast delivered outstandingly, executing bravura ballet at its best… split leaps, multiple pirouettes, barrel turns, jetes en tournant & more…I think my mouth was hanging open again, in very un-Diva fashion. Tutus, tulle, tights, tiaras…I was in my element ~ everything was, as they say, beautiful at the Ballet.
Here are a few photographs I took backstage before & after the performance…
My favourite image….
Alicia Alonso & the cast of the International Ballet Gala backstage afterwards.
The next top international dance company performing in Cape Town this year is Introdans from The Netherlands ~ they will perform Superstars in September 2013 at the Baxter Theatre with booking via Computicket or 08619158000 / www.baxter.co.za *