Cape Town City Ballet to Present SWAN LAKE, 5-20 April

South Africa's National Ballet Company, Cape Town City Ballet, will continue their 80th anniversary celebrations with their breathtaking production of Swan Lake at the Artscape Opera House from 5-20 April. The season includes guest performances by stars of The Royal Ballet.

Swan Lake provides the perfect opportunity for South Africa's most esteemed ballet company to once again display its grace, expertise and finesse in this timeless ballet. Still considered the benchmark of all classical ballets, and arguably the most famous of all, Swan Lake transports audiences to a world of romance and beauty. It portrays the story of Odette, who is turned into a swan by the evil sorcerer, Von Rothbart. His spell can only be broken by true and pure love. Odette falls in love with Prince Siegfried, who is tricked into falling in love with Odile, Von Rothbart's daughter.

Two star dancers from The Royal Ballet in London, Federico Bonelli and Hikaru Kobayashi, will appear as guest artists for the evening performance on 19 April and matinee on 20 April. Laura Bösenberg, partnered by Thomas Thorne as Prince Siegfried, dances the dual roles of Princess Odette and Princess Odile on 5 and 12 April and the 19 April matinee. Daniel Szybkowski will partner Angela Hansford (Odette) and Kim Vieira (Odile) on 9 and 13 April while Jesse Milligan will partner Kirstel Jensen (Odette) and Mami Fujii (Odile) on 12 and 16 April.

The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Graham Scott, will perform Tchaikovsky's beautiful score at all the performance, except for the one on 13 April.

Cape Town City Ballet will present Swan Lake at the Artscape Opera House from 5-20 April. Book at COMPUTICKET (tel: 0861 915 8000) or Artscape Dial-a-Seat (tel: 021 421 7695) without delay to secure the best available seats. Tickets from R 100-R 320.

Casts in order of appearance:
SAT 5 APR at 19h30 - Laura Bösenberg & Thomas Thorne
WED 9 APR at 19h30 - Angela Hansford, Kim Vieira & Daniel Szybkowski
SAT 12 APR at 14h00 - Kirstel Jensen, Mami Fujii & Jesse Milligan
SAT 12 APR at 19h30 - Laura Bösenberg & Thomas Thorne
SUN 13 APR at 19h30 - Angela Hansford, Kim Vieira & Daniel Szybkowski (recorded music)
WED 16 APR at 19h30 - Kirstel Jensen, Mami Fujii & Jesse Milligan
SAT 19 APR at 14h00 - Laura Bösenberg & Thomas Thorne
SAT 19 APR at 19h30 - Hikaru Kobayashi & Federico Bonelli
SUN 20 APR at 15h00 - Hikaru Kobayashi & Federico Bonelli