The Geneva Ballet debuts at Joburg Theatre

The Geneva Ballet (Grand Théâtre de Genève) debuts in Johannesburg in June at the Mandela, Joburg Theatre.  

After recent visits to Cape Town and the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, the world-renowned Geneva Ballet, under the direction of Philippe Cohen, opens on Wednesday June 17 with Roméo & Juliette at The Mandela, Joburg Theatre and runs to Sunday June 21, 2015 for a limited season of 6 shows only.

During its Johannesburg season the company will celebrate the anniversary of the 100^th performance of this production of Roméo & Juliette.

Established in Switzerland at the start of the 19th Century, the Geneva Ballet is known for its rich repertoire of neo-classical and contemporary dance styles featuring highly skilled classically trained dancers and top choreographers.  

Joëlle Bouvier, one of several guest choreographers invited by the Geneva Ballet to enrich its repertoire, has with this production of Roméo & Juliette, re-imagined Shakespeare’s classic tragedy as a contemporary piece, re-visiting the ballet in an inventive way.  She has taken the essence of the story, its fundamental characteristics and choreographed around that rather than sticking strictly to the details of the play.  She turns the sequence of the traditional classic upside down - conversely beginning with the funeral ceremony and working retrospectively back to the beginning. It is driven musically by the strong, stirring music of the composer Prokofiev.

“Together, we unite our bodies into the gentleness and fury of this music; we let ourselves be inspired by the rhythm and its poetic nature to compose body movements, lifts, motions and fractures. All describe the passionate adventure of the two lovers”, says Bouvier.

 

The elegance of the costumes and the stage decor is offset by the vitality of the fight scenes, as the 22-dancer strong company creates a dynamic energy and an eye-catching aesthetic.

“Bouvier has stripped everything down, creating movement which, while technically challenging, innovative, and incredibly beautiful, never feels forced, and a plot consisting of only the most integral events.  It is as if she were leaving it up to the viewer to decide the specifics of who these two people are, what defines them, and what draws them simultaneously together and apart; and, of course, these are the questions which make this story timelessly relevant.”     Ann Rogovoy, The Rogovoy Report (USA)

 

The company is considered one of the most original dance companies in Europe, excelling in variations of the classical ballet vernacular through innovative artistic collaborations. With an average age of 25, Geneva Ballet is a company that features youthful dancers from around the world and includes the South African Angela Rebelo, niece of well-known South African actors Nicky Rebelo and Jennifer Steyn Rebelo.

 

As a major component of its two-week long visit to Johannesburg, the Geneva Ballet company, with a focus on choreography in a variety of forms and expression, will be involved in a collaborative project with South African choreographers and dancers. This unique project will involve four local choreographers, Gregory Maqoma, Mamela Nyamza, PJ Sabbagha and Fana Tshabalala with Nathanaël Marie from the Geneva Ballet and will take place at the Soweto Theatre, the Dance Space in Newtown, University of Johannesburg Arts & Culture and at the Hillbrow Theatre from June 8 - 14. The creative result of this collaboration will be showcased in partnership at the Soweto and Wits Theatres on June 13 and 14 respectively.

 

The Geneva Ballet Johannesburg 2015 visit has been made possible thanks to the support of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia. The Johannesburg season is as a result of the close collaboration between the Joburg Theatre, Geneva Ballet and Zelda Productions and with further support from the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa and the collaborative effort of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in South Africa.

 

Roméo & Juliette performances are from Wednesday 17 June - Friday 19 June at 8pm, Saturday 20 June at 3pm & 8pm and Sunday 21 June at 2pm.

Tickets  range from R180 to R350 and are on sale via the Joburg Theatre website www.joburgtheatre.com  or by calling the theatre’s direct ticketing line on 0861 670 670.  

Discounted rates for groups of ten or more are available by calling 011 877 6853.

#PLAYWITHOREO CAFE

 

World’s most playful cookie brings South Africa the #PLAYWITHOREO POP-UP CAFÉ

LET YOUR IMAGINATION GO AND COME play #PLAYWITHOREO

 

This April, the world’s number one biscuit and milk’s favourite cookie, OREO, invites South African fans to the deliciously playful #PLAYWITHOREO café. The quirky cookie has proved to be the most playful snack in the world over the past 100 and some years and always aims to celebrate the kid inside us all and inspire moments of carefree fun. This year the playful biscuit is back with more fun and spirit to lighten fans’ moods. On the 2^nd April 2015 the #PLAYWITHOREO café will open to the South African public at The Zone @ Rosebank for a limited period only (closes 3^rd May 2015).

The experiential café, a pop-up store at its best, characterises the brand’s imaginative spirit. OREO’s attitude will be brought to life in the café as the store is built around the concept of ‘play’. OREO believes that ‘play’ enables us to see possibilities in the ordinary and that’s what it wants for its fans – moments of endless, imaginative play.  “OREO fans are used to playing with OREO, whether twisting, licking, dunking, rolling, stacking or dipping the biscuit to make various delicious treats,” says Grant Van Niekerk, Category Leader: Biscuits and Beverages at Mondelez SA, “Now OREO is on a mission to inspire imagination and play around the globe, not only with the cookie itself, but in consumers’ everyday lives.” “We are thrilled to open the #PLAYWITHOREO Café to celebrate playfulness and inspire more moments of joy,” explains Van Niekerk.

Fans visiting the cafe can take time out of their busy, serious days to enjoy the delight of the OREO ‘Cookie Conveyer’, a moving dessert bar with OREO inspired treats designed by the renowned patissiere Danielle Postma from Moemas. OREO dessert prices will vary from R10 to R40 and the menu is a mouth-watering list of OREO happiness; OREO popcorn snack, OREO sprinkle pops, milk & OREO, white chocolate OREO fudge, chocolate OREO slab, dreamy OREO chocolate truffle, crushed OREO milkshake, OREO cookie monster cupcakes, OREO cookie crumb parfait, rocking OREO white chocolate cheesecake, OREO shortbread sandwich with ice-cream and last but not least the OREO ice cream Sundae.

 

 

Whilst at the store, café goers can also let their creative sides free and play with the world’s number one biscuit via a variety of fun-tivities. Visitors can dream up amazing ‘OREO Selfie’ art at the OREO decoration station by choosing from a multitude of miniature and edible props and create their own ‘Cookie Characters’. There are three miniature OREO photo-studios where you can style your OREO for awesome mini photo opportunities. Additionally, there are life-size backdrops to take your own playful selfies or simply take five on our OREO see-sae or swing or café tables and relish in the playful spirit of the cafe.

 

 

The playing doesn’t end there as the café also hosts a boutique OREO store where fans can purchase limited edition OREO merchandise and memorabilia. You can even share the fun with a friend by purchasing a dessert for them to come and enjoy when they visit the store next. The café is the perfect spot to bring family and friends to let your imagination go. So make your play date today!

The café will be open to fans 7 days a week from 10:00am to 20:00pm, including public holidays.

Don’t forget to sign the café guest book before you leave the happiest pop-up café in town and share the fun you had with us with #PLAYWITHOREO to @OREO on Twitter and Instagram  and Facebook at Oreo.

Johnny Clegg live in the West Rand!

Johnny Clegg will be performing with his full band at The Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Roodepoort on Sunday 30^th November at 5pm.

 Gates open at 3pm. This is a family event, where public picnic on the lawn. Johnny will be performing with his full band and will be performing a selection of his greatest hits. Adults R180 (13 years+); Children R75 (under 12 years). Tickets available from www.computicket.com or 0861 915 8000

People are welcome to bring their picnic baskets and blankets. Camp chairs are allowed but are limited to use on the perimeter of the venue (i.e. cannot be used in centre of the field as this will block view of someone on a picnic blanket behind them).

No gazebos or umbrellas permitted in concert area.

We kindly request that you take your refuse home with you when you have finished your picnic so as to keep the gardens as beautiful and litter free as you found them on your arrival.

By Ghia ten Doeschate

In The Purple Seat: The Dining Room

Due to its popular demand, AFICIONADO POP-UP BAR has teamed up with foodie lover and caterer, Sasha Sonnenberg of Prep’ed By Sasha to bring you The Dining Room experience once again.

Together with Sasha, The Dining Room gives you a reason to reward yourself after a busy week with tasty drinks, mouth-watering food and lengthy conversation.

Expect to have your taste buds blown away with a 6 course fine dining menu that consists of starters like the Greek salad granita and deconstructed Taco. Mains include the 48 Hour Ron Zacapa Braised
Beef Short Rib and dessert is the Liquid Popcorn with caramel froth and
the Tres Leches (From Spanish, “Three Milks Cake”)

The Dining Room runs from the 30th October to the 13th December. This is
a semi-private pop-up restaurant in a pop-up bar with no more than 36
guests wining and dining at one time.

Definitely something worth experiencing!

By Ghia ten Doeschate