Cape Ballet Africa’s Swan Lake glides into Montecasino this August

Cape Ballet Africa (CBA), in association with Global Star Events, brings Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake to the Teatro at Montecasino from Friday, 7 August to Sunday, 23 August. The strictly limited three-week season includes a Women’s Day long weekend treat: audiences can pick between a 1pm matinee or a 5:30pm evening show. Selected performances and ticket categories are discounted by up to 40% for a limited time, with tickets available through webtickets.co.za.

London-based Georgian choreographer Elena Glurjidze, a former Lead Principal Ballerina with the English National Ballet, choreographs and directs the production. Glurjidze first danced Odette/Odile for the ENB in 2002 and closed out Derek Deane’s Swan Lake at the London Coliseum in January 2015 in the same role. She now owns and runs the Masters of Ballet Academy in London, whose students have gone on to institutions including the Royal Ballet Upper School, the Vaganova Academy and the Bolshoi Academy.

Two guest artists join CBA’s 50-strong company in the role of Prince Siegfried: Paris-born Aubin Le Marchand, a Principal Dancer with Béjart Ballet Lausanne, and Austrian principal Solomon Osazuva, who previously guested with CBA for its November 2025 production of Giselle. Several of CBA’s own dancers also take on principal roles across the season, including Gabriel Ravenscroft, Joshua Williams and Gabriel Fernandes Da Silva as Prince Siegfried, alongside Leanè Theunissen, Paige McElligott, Maryana Pobuta and Savannah Ireland as Odette/Odile.

For Brazilian-born Da Silva, who joined CBA in February 2026 after nearly seven years dancing in South Africa, the role carries personal weight. He describes Prince Siegfried as more than a fairytale figure, a reflection of the pressure and responsibility he’s carried since a young age, with dance offering him the same sense of freedom on stage that he searches for off it.

Pretoria-trained Leanè Theunissen, who has danced Odile before, makes her debut in the dual role of Odette/Odile opposite Gabriel Ravenscroft. She points to the emotional range the role demands, mistrust, grief, sensuality and strength, as what draws her to it.

Le Marchand trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School before dancing with the Croatian National Theatre and Tulsa Ballet, where he rose to Principal Dancer. He’s worked with choreographers including Derek Deane and Angelin Preljocaj, and joined Béjart Ballet Lausanne in 2025. Osazuva, a graduate of the Ballet Academy of the Vienna State Opera, built his career with the National Theatre Brno before freelancing across Europe with companies including the Bosnian National Theatre and the Slovenian National Theatre.

The production’s sets come from Michael Mitchell, with costumes by Marcel Meyer, the pair behind CBA’s double Naledi Award-nominated production of The Nutcracker.

“Collaborating with exceptional artists from around the world is an incredible experience for everyone in the company,” says Debbie Turner, CEO and Artistic Director of Cape Ballet Africa. “We inspire one another, learn from each other’s unique talents, and continually challenge each other to reach new heights.”

Simon Bryce, CEO of Global Star Events, says the season’s extension reflects the excitement already building around the run in Johannesburg. The show is recommended for ages five and up, with ticket prices ranging from R220 to R720. Discounted student and group ticketing is available for bookings of 20 or more tickets on select performances. Cape Town season details are yet to be announced.

Details:

• Location: Teatro, Montecasino
• Date: 7  to 23 August
• Times: 7 & 14 August, 19:30 | 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 22 August, 1pm and 5:30pm | 13 & 20 August, 7pm | 21 August, 3pm | 23 August, 1pm (no Tuesday performances,  check times when booking)
• Cost: R220 to R720
• Tickets: webtickets.co.za
• Contact: [email protected] (student and group bookings of 20+)
• Online: capeballetafrica.com | swan-lake.co.za