Giselle, opening at the Joburg Theatre on Thursday 12 April as a co-production by The South African Ballet Theatre and Mzansi Productions, marks the next stage in the merger between the two companies announced earlier this year. SABT and Mzansi Productions are generously funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, making this production possible.

The new company will bring together Johannesburg's two professional ballet and dance companies in a partnership intended to share skills, consolidate resources and strengthen funding initiatives and is aimed at securing a stronger foundation for the growth of SA ballet and dance.

Commenting on the merger, the new company's CEO Dirk Badenhorst highlighted the significance of Giselle in the history of SABT, having been the first production staged when the company was founded in 2001. "Now, eleven years later, Giselle is also the last ballet being presented by SABT prior to the establishment of the new company, simultaneously marking the end of one chapter in the history of ballet in South Africa and the beginning of the next."

In July the first-ever SA staging the ballet Le Corsaire will be the first production presented under the banner of the newly constituted company, the name of which is still to be announced.

The season of Giselle later this month features an array of dancers from South Africa and abroad, including six ballet dancers from Cuba who are in SA as part of Mzansi Productions' ongoing exchange programme with ballet institutions in Cuba initiated by Dirk Badenhorst in 2008. The Cuban dancers will share principal and soloist roles with SABT and Mzansi Productions' dancers.

Iain MacDonald, artistic director of SABT and of the new company, has announced casting for Giselle. The title role will be danced by Burnise Silvius, Lauren Summerley, Anya Carstens, Sanmarie Kreuzhuber, Nicole Ferreira (all SABT), Angela Maree (Mzansi Productions) and Claudia Monja (Cuba); the role of Albrecht will be danced by Jonathan Rodrigues, Humberto Montero, James Fraser (all SABT) and Nelson Nunez and Ramiro Samon (both Cuba); the Queen of the Wilis will be danced by Claudia Monja (Cuba), Anya Carstens, Sanmarie Kreuzhuber, Nicole Ferreira (all SABT) and Angelique Harris (ad hoc).

Casting

Casting for Giselle, Albrecht, Queen of the Wilis; subject to change; all dates are for April

Thu 12 19:30 Burnise Silvius Jonathan Rodrigues Claudia Monja

Fri 13 19:30 Lauryn Summerley Humberto Montero Anya Carstens

Sat 14 15:00 Anya Carstens Jonathan Rodrigues Sanmarie Kreuzhuber

Sat 14 19:30 Sanmarie Kreuzhuber Nelson Nunez Claudia Monja

Sun 15 11:00 Angela Maree James Fraser Nicole Ferreira

Sun 15 15:00 Burnise Silvius Ramiro Samón Sanmarie Kreuzhuber

Tue 17 11:00 Angela Maree James Fraser Angelique Harris

Thu 19 19:30 Nicole Ferreira Nelson Nunez Anya Carstens

Fri 20 19:30 Lauryn Summerley Humberto Montero Nicole Ferreira

Sat 21 15:00 Shannon Glover Jonathan Rodrigues Anya Carstens

Sat 21 19:30 Claudia Monja Nelson Nunez Sanmarie Kreuzhuber

Sun 22 11:00 Burnise Silvius Ramiro Samón Claudia Monja

Sun 22 15:00 Shannon Glover Jonathan Rodrigues Sanmarie Kreuzhuber

Tue 24 11:00 Nicole Ferreira Nelson Nunez Angelique Harris

Thu 26 19:30 Anya Carstens Jonathan Rodrigues Sanmarie Kreuzhuber

Fri 27 15:00 Sanmarie Kreuzhuber Nelson Nunez Claudia Monja

Sat 28 15:00 Shannon Glover Jonathan Rodrigues Anya Carstens

Sat 28 19:30 Claudia Monja Nelson Nunez Sanmarie Kreuzhuber

Sun 29 11:00 Burnise Silvius Ramiro Samón Claudia Monja

Sun 29 15:00 Anya Carstens Jonathan Rodrigues Sanmarie Kreuzhuber

FAST FACTS

WHERE: Joburg Theatre

WHEN: Thursday 12 April to Sunday 29 April

TICKETS: R50 to R320

BOOKINGS: Tel 0861 670 670; online at www.joburgtheatre.com

DISCOUNTS: Available for pensioners, schools, block bookings, SABT Friends and City of Johannesburg staff.

Visit www.saballettheatre.co.za for further information

SABT Fans ; SABTZA

NOTE TO THE MEDIA: As this announcement is being sent by both The South African Ballet Theatre and Mzansi Productions, you may receive it twice if your name appears on both distribution lists.

For further information please contact Samantha Saevitzon on 011-877 6898

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THE SOUTH AFRICAN BALLET THEATRE AND MZANSI PRODUCTIONS RECEIVE

FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY DISTRIBUTION TRUST FUND