LOVERS of all things dance are in for a treat as the United States’ premier Christian ballet, Ballet Magnificat!, is on its way to our shores next week to showcase a two-act performance of Basic Instructions and Prodigal’s Journey.
East London hosts, the Christian Dance Academy, are delighted that the talented Ballet Magnificat! are making a stopover in the city as part of their international tour, saying these events are usually only hosted in bigger cities, such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
Founded in 1986, the company has already gained a reputation for its excellence and Ballet Magnificat!, which is made up of two companies, now rivals any other dance company in the world for artistic excellence.
Based in Jackson, Mississippi, the companies perform more than 200 times annually throughout the world. Dancers include former members of Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Spokane Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the State Theatre of the Czech Republic, Oldenburgishes Staatstheatre of Germany, Ballet Mississippi, Eternia Dance Theatre of Sweden, Ballet Etudes, Tallahassee Ballet Company, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ballet Hawaii and the Houston Ballet Academy.
In addition to offering a performance for the East London public, 17 members of the company will also present a community performance at Buffalo Flats Primary School as well as offering workshops in ballet and contemporary and modern dance. Kati Ansell, principal teacher at the Christian Dance Academy in East London, is responsible for getting the talented dancers on our stage.
She contacted tour director Eric Beaver on Facebook about visiting East London as part of their current tour and Beaver was eager and came on board.
Ballet Magnificat! are currently on tour having danced in the US, Poland, Ukraine, Russia and Kenya.
They arrive in East London on Monday for their performance before making their way to Cape Town.
“I think East London often gets left out of the loop when international artists tour our country. So I am excited that I do not have to climb on a plane to go and see them,” said Ansell.
“I am so pleased that they will also be teaching our local dancers. It can only inspire our members to produce better dancing and to broaden their dance experience.”
Ansell believes the company will inspire and encourage upcoming dancers in East London. “We are meant to live in a dynamic, meaningful way. Sometimes watching something artistic can ignite a passion to do that.
“I once heard a quote ‘True art enables and uplifts,’ I believe we could all do with some of that,” she said.
l Due to the power outage reported in yesterday’s Daily Dispatch, the show will be moved from Sunday to Monday evening. The tickets booked for Sunday will still be valid on Monday. —
Premier ballet for the Buffalo
East London hosts, the Christian Dance Academy, are delighted that the talented Ballet Magnificat! are making a stopover in the city as part of their international tour, saying these events are usually only hosted in bigger cities, such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
Founded in 1986, the company has already gained a reputation for its excellence and Ballet Magnificat!, which is made up of two companies, now rivals any other dance company in the world for artistic excellence.
Based in Jackson, Mississippi, the companies perform more than 200 times annually throughout the world. Dancers include former members of Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Spokane Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the State Theatre of the Czech Republic, Oldenburgishes Staatstheatre of Germany, Ballet Mississippi, Eternia Dance Theatre of Sweden, Ballet Etudes, Tallahassee Ballet Company, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ballet Hawaii and the Houston Ballet Academy.
In addition to offering a performance for the East London public, 17 members of the company will also present a community performance at Buffalo Flats Primary School as well as offering workshops in ballet and contemporary and modern dance. Kati Ansell, principal teacher at the Christian Dance Academy in East London, is responsible for getting the talented dancers on our stage.
She contacted tour director Eric Beaver on Facebook about visiting East London as part of their current tour and Beaver was eager and came on board.
Ballet Magnificat! are currently on tour having danced in the US, Poland, Ukraine, Russia and Kenya.
They arrive in East London on Monday for their performance before making their way to Cape Town.
“I think East London often gets left out of the loop when international artists tour our country. So I am excited that I do not have to climb on a plane to go and see them,” said Ansell.
“I am so pleased that they will also be teaching our local dancers. It can only inspire our members to produce better dancing and to broaden their dance experience.”
Ansell believes the company will inspire and encourage upcoming dancers in East London. “We are meant to live in a dynamic, meaningful way. Sometimes watching something artistic can ignite a passion to do that.
“I once heard a quote ‘True art enables and uplifts,’ I believe we could all do with some of that,” she said.
l Due to the power outage reported in yesterday’s Daily Dispatch, the show will be moved from Sunday to Monday evening. The tickets booked for Sunday will still be valid on Monday. —
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