Cape Dance Company to Present GRACE at Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, 20-23 Nov

The Cape Dance Company will present GRACE at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch from 20 to 23 November 2013. The dynamic season will be directed by Debbie Turner and will feature exquisite neo-classical ballets created by South African and International choreographers such as Bradley Shelver and Christopher L. Huggins.

Dancers for this season total sixteen performers and include Cape Dance Company founding member Louisa Talbot with, amongst others, Megan Swart, Alice Godfrey, James Bradley, Grant van Ster, Shaun Oelf, Tamryn Van Houten, Marlin Zoutman, Elzanne Crause, Mthuthuzeli November and Lee Fennell.

This programme offers varying styles of choreography and music choices and will apeal to a broad audience. The Cape Dance Company is well known for its athletic movement aesthetic and has garnered much praise for its outstanding productions over the years. When last performed in 2012, GRACE was described 'breathtakingly beautiful ballet,' 'a many splendoured thing' and 'amazing GRACE' by dance reviewers in the city.

Bradley Shelver defines his ballet "Scenes" as 'the location of events that attract attention through a series of actions exhibited in their connection'. A modern, minimalist and architectural ballet in four parts written to the compositions of Gallasso, Bach, Beethoven and Riley, it was inspired by the process of creativity, the elements involved when displaying or manifesting art. The ballet subtly reveals the layers that emerge when creating emotional connections with the stage, framed by observers that demarcate the space - a scene within a scene, witnessed by both audience and performer. Costume design is by Dicky Longhurst.

American choreographer Christopher L. Huggins's powerful works, "Enemy Behind the Gates" and "When Dawn Comes" were first staged by the Cape Dance Company in 2010 and 2011 respectively and will complement the new programme presented this year. "Enemy Behind the Gates" is a fast and furious work in a military style. Dressed in red and black Cossack-style outfits the choreography explores the "enemies who live amongst us", and was inspired by security at airports around the world, the constant feeling of being observed and the anxiety that knowledge inspires. "When Dawn Comes" is a mesmerising pas de huit for four female and four male dancers that explores love and relationships in gossamer nightgowns and royal blue suits.

The Cape Dance Company was founded in 1995 by Debbie Turner and is based in Westlake, Cape Town. Wearing two hats, Turner is the Artistic Director of the Cape Dance Company and Director of the Cape Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA). Her name has become synonymous with exceptional and polished productions danced by well-trained and highly disciplined artists, many of whom are CAPA graduates. The Cape Dance Company has an enviable repertoire of neo-classical and neo-contemporary works and the company performs regularly in local theatres such as Artscape and the Masque Theatre. Additionally, the Cape Dance Company has presented seasons at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York City and at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. The Cape Dance Company dancers are renowned for their technical aplomb and the ballets presented this season provide the ideal platform for the dancers to showcase their talent. The Cape Dance Company's repertoire becomes more diverse each year and this season promises yet again to have wide audience appeal.

The Cape Dance Company is solidly committed to providing high quality dance performances for the city and surrounds that showcases superiorly skilled artists presenting appealing and engaging choreographies of a standard in keeping with the international profile and quality of the beautiful city of Cape Town.

Performances run from 20 - 23 November at 20h15 with tickets R120 to R140 via Computicket or the Oude Libertas box office on 021 809 7473/7380. From 28 November - 7 December 2013, the Cape Dance Company will present CADENCE at the Artscape Theatre, featuring new ballets by Christopher L. Huggins from the USA and Joshua Beamish from Canada. Booking is via Computicket or 0214217695.

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