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Rising Cuban ballet star in SA
Rising Cuban ballet star Cynthia González Rodríguez has arrived in Johannesburg to prepare for the classical ballet, Don Quixote, which comes to Durban and Johannesburg from 29 September to 23 October. Generous funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund has made the new staging of Don Quixote possible.
Miss González Rodríguez is in SA ahead of a contingent of 17 Cuban dancers to work with SA-based dancer Michael Revie. Miss González Rodríguez and Mr. Revie are one of several couples sharing the leading roles in Mzansi Productions’ staging of the glittering ballet classic.
Acclaimed as one of Cuba’s most promising ‘baby ballerinas’, Miss González Rodríguez is a senior student at the internationally renowned National Ballet School in Havana. Her partnership with Michael Revie brings together the passionate bravura of the Cuban ballet style with the precision and elegance of Mr. Revie’s Royal Ballet School training.
Commenting on the partnership with Miss González Rodríguez, Mr. Revie said audiences are fortunate to have the opportunity to see a ballet star of the future on our stages. He added: “But much as Cynthia is a star of the future, she is also already a very strong dancer and a pleasure to partner. I look forward to sharing performances with her.”
More sharing in Don Quixote is in distinguished SA ballerina Angela Malan’s coaching of the younger dancers in the production, bringing her experience and expertise to rehearsing Miss González Rodríguez for the ballerina role of Kitri.
“Passing on what I learned during my career gives me a tremendous sense of fulfilment,” says Ms. Malan. “It’s part of ballet tradition the world over to share knowledge with the younger generation and working with Cynthia has the added dimension of blending our more English style with the Cuban style. The fact that Cynthia doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish doesn’t matter one bit because while our national ballet styles may be different, ballet remains a universal language. Only the accents change.”
Based on an episode in Cervantes epic novel and set in bustling Barcelona, the ballet unfolds in a cascade of dazzling classical ballet which features some of the most celebrated showpieces in all ballet, the most famous of which is the virtuoso Don Quixote Pas de Deux.
"All hard at work during practise classes!"
(* Photograph by Carla Nel Photography)
Durban
The Playhouse Opera Theatre
29, 30 September, 1, 4, 5 October at 7.30pm; 1, 2 October at 2.30pm
Tickets: R80, R100, R120, R160
Johannesburg
The Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City
13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 October at 8.15pm; 15, 16, 22, 23 October at 3pm
Tickets: R60, R120, R180, R220, R300 (for the Royal Boxes)
Booking
At Computicket; by phone 083 915 8000
online at:
online.computicket.com/web/event/don_quixote/317805768/referer:highlights-index-54-0-0-grid
YOUR TICKETS FOR DON QUIXOTE ARE JUST A CLICK AWAY ! See also the "Radio Havana Cuba" website publication here: www.radiohc.cu/ing/Culture/cultural-notes/2677-cuban-national-ballet-school-in-south-african-cuban-co-production.html
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