Press: Sensational International Ballet Galas for Cape Town and Johannesburg in September

Outstanding ballet will once again grace South African stages when the much anticipated SAIBC International Ballet Gala (IBG) takes place from 2 to 9 September 2017 in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Presented by Dirk Badenhorst, the CEO and Founder of the biennial South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC), in association with Artscape and supported by South African Tourism, the highly anticipated SAIBC Galas in Cape Town and Johannesburg and once-off Ballet in the Bush performance in Limpopo will showcase thrilling ballet variations, pas de deux and neo classical works, performed by a stellar company of top professional dancers from South Africa, Russia, Spain, Mongolia, Armenia, the USA, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt and Mexico. Stars performing include ballerina Maria Rudenko from (pictured) partnered by Artemiy Pyzhov, Monier Javier Jouve, Anujin Otgontugs, Hassan Eltabie, Mariam Karapetyan, Jonhal Fernandez, Lissi Baez, Dzianis Klimuk, and the country’s Angela Malan and Andile Ndlovu.

Audiences can look forward to spectacular pas de deux and solos from Giselle, Swan Lake (Black Swan and White Swan pas de deux), Paquita and Le Corsaire. Renowned South African choreographer Adele Blank will also create a new piece that will enjoy its world premiere at Artscape on 2 September 2017.

Says Dirk Badenhorst, “I've always believed in the role of Arts and in particular ballet can play in bringing South Africans and the world together, and started calling it Ballet Diplomacy, but in this exciting partnership with with SA Tourism we are taking it one step further and now it also becomes Ballet Tourism, with outstanding dancers from around the world becoming Ambassadors for this beautiful country”.

The SAIBC International Ballet Gala takes place in four venues in Cape Town and Johannesburg, as follows: Artscape Theatre on 2 September at 8pm and 3 September at 2pm and 6pm. In Gauteng at Mountain Cambridge School in Hartebeespoort on 5 September at 7pm, in Johannesburg at the Mosaiek Teatro in Fairland on 7 September at 8pm, and at the Legend Golf and Safari Resort in Limpopo on 9 September at 7pm . Tickets for performances at Artscape and the Mosaiek Theatres are through Computicket and cost from R120 - R395. For tickets (& workshop info) in Hartebeespoort call Dirk Badenhorst on 0833240940, and for Ballet in the Bush at Legends email reservations@legendlodges.co.za or call 0124436700. (Please note repertoire is subject to change).