Cape Ballet Africa (CBA) is set to captivate audiences with ELYSIUM, a new quadruple bill at The Baxter this October, launching the dynamic company’s exciting Spring Season.
Hot off its highly successful run of Swan Lake in Johannesburg, CBA presents ELYSIUM at The Pam Golding Theatre at The Baxter from 3 to 11 October. The ballet brings together four exquisite and diverse ballets by celebrated choreographers George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, Kenneth Tindall and Michelle Reid, each offering a unique perspective on the human experience.
Through contrasting choreography, music, and artistic styles, ELYSIUM creates a rich and inspiring ballet experience, exploring themes of love, resilience, transformation, and joy through the range, beauty, and emotional depth of ballet.
More about Elysium
“ELYSIUM marks two years since CBA debuted our inaugural production SALT at The Baxter,” says Debbie Turner, Artistic Director and Founder of Cape Ballet Africa.
“There have been many exciting developments since then, and we are happy to be back on The Baxter stage with this captivating quadruple bill. The programme includes two new works created for the Company by extraordinary South African choreographer Michelle Reid and UK-based, internationally acclaimed Kenneth Tindall.”
“Michelle, creator of the sassy, sensational, smouldering ballet SMOKE, will once again make an indelible mark on CBA’s repertoire with a powerful new ballet titled Duende. We were fortunate to have hosted Kenneth Tindall for two weeks as he choreographed and shaped We Met At The Moon, Briefly, his new work for our dancers. We can’t wait to share ELYSIUM with audiences; it’s a journey of ethereal beauty and classical elegance with dynamic storytelling,” says Turner.
Opening the programme is George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, a joyous celebration of expansive romanticism, set to Tchaikovsky’s soaring Piano Concerto No. 3. It was originally staged for CBA by Diana White of the George Balanchine Trust, who has spent her lifetime studying, performing, staging and coaching Balanchine’s works. Balanchine famously said Allegro Brillante “contains everything I knew about classical ballet.”
Next up, CBA presents Nacho Duato’s REMANSO, performed to Poetic Waltzes by celebrated Spanish composer Enrique Granados. First performed by the Company as part of their production Breathwords, with the support of the Embassy of Spain in Pretoria and the Spanish Consulate in Cape Town, this ballet returns due to the overwhelming response it received here.
Critics have hailed it as:
‘a thrilling demonstration that human bodies can be used to say things that – almost 30 years after they were first expressed – still feel original and continue to have something to convey about what it is to be alive’ (Daily Maverick);
‘a witty and expressive piece’ (Beverley Brommert);
‘equal parts playful and sensual with a quirkiness that gives it an added charm’ (Theatre Scene Cape Town);
‘a dream of power, connection, confidence, love and non-judgement’ (Calloffthesearch.com).
We Met At The Moon, Briefly is award-winning choreographer Kenneth Tindall’s newly commissioned work for CBA.
“I travel around the world, working with different companies. It can be quite a lonely endeavour, but then you walk into a studio space and, for a brief moment, you all hold this poetry, this art that you’re trying to create among the noise that’s happening around you,” says Tindall.
“We Met At The Moon, Briefly has been created with the tools of all that are involved, the elements in the environment, and the very place itself – Cape Town. It’s a physically demanding, very beautiful ballet, full of sculpture. It’s classical, performed en pointe, but reinventing, innovating to create something different.”
Closing ELYSIUM is Michelle Reid’s Duende, set to music by guitarist and composer Estas Tonne.
“When used in everyday modern language, the word Duende is used to describe someone who possesses a magnetic, inexplicable personal charm, charisma or allure,” says Reid. “When I found the music by chance, it was a very interesting sound for me as I have never worked with Spanish guitar before. I feel in love with it and could see something fun and exciting could be created.”
Get tickets
This captivating new production brings together works from some of the world’s most celebrated choreographers, brought to life by Cape Ballet Africa’s award-winning dancers. Elysium plays at the Baxter for one week only, with two weekend matinees and one Seniors Special Performance during the week.
Cost: R200 – R495 per person. Book now on Webtickets or via Pick ‘n Pay stores nationwide.
When: 3 – 10 October 2026 | From 7.30pm | From 3pm (weekend matinee) | From 11am (Seniors Special Performance)
Where: Baxter Theatre Centre (Pam Golding Theatre), Main Rd, Rondebosch, Cape Town
Website: capeballetafrica.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Cape Ballet Africa
Instagram: @capeballetafrica
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