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Saturday, April 25, 2009

TANGO NIGHTS


(Pic: Lead dancers Kerryn Howard (ex Durban) and Andre Sauer in “Bedroom Duet”))

Bovim Ballet from Cape Town is to bring their sensual Tango Nights – which combines the allure and sensuality of tango with the athleticism of rock ballet en-pointe - to the Playhouse for a short season from April 29 as part of a national tour.

Under the Artistic Directorship of acclaimed choreographer Sean Bovim, Bovim Ballet will tour to Durban, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg with their full-length dance sensation, Tango Nights. Bovim’s carefully selected music includes the powerful Roxanne from the film Moulin Rouge and Gotan Project which, combined with masterful lighting by Daniel Galloway, set design by Karl Staub and clever choreography, result in a high impact production and a visual feast guaranteed to entertain audiences of all ages. Bovim continues his fusion of fashion and dance through his collaboration with international designers such as Malcolm Klûk and CGDT who have designed the exquisite costumes.

The male dancers include Andre Sauer, Darren Greef, Grant Swift, Devon Marshbank, Marc Goldberg, Ignatius Van Heerden, James Bradley and Shaun Murphy. Kerryn Howard (formerly of Durban), Kirsten Isenberg, Jennnifer Middleton, Faye Dubinski, Taryn Makaab, Nicola Marais, Alexandra Potgieter and Tracey Aaron complete the female ensemble.

Known for repeatedly pushing choreographic boundaries Bovim says: “I use classical ballet because of its physicality, musicality and creativity; to show off extraordinary technique combined with a fusion of styles that has become my own vocabulary”. He adds that for him, ballet is not only about the great classics such as Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, but “deserves to be given the space to evolve just like architecture, art and the culture that surrounds us.”

Over the past 15 years, Sean Bovim’s work has been seen all over South Africa and as far afield as the USA, Russia, Denmark, Spain, the Edinburgh Festival and Ireland, where Queen at the Ballet played to more than 30,000 people with standing ovations at every performance at the Point Theatre in Dublin. Sean won the Dance Indaba Fringe Award for Choreography in 1995, the National Choreographic Competition in 1999 and SwingTime won a Naledi in 2005.

Having just completed successful seasons at Artscape and Oude Libertas where the show completely sold out, Bovim Ballet’s Tango Nights launches its national tour in Durban.

Performances take place at the Playhouse from April 29 to May 3. Special discounts are available for pensioners, students and block bookings of ten or more. Tickets through Computicket and advance booking is essential in order to avoid disappointment.