November 14, 2006
 By Adrienne Sichel
Who: Ballet Theatre Afrikan. Guest artists: The Actors Co-Operative
Works: Grand Pas Classique after Victor Gsovsky; a divertissement selection and A Midsummer Night's Dream by Mark Hawkins
Where: University of Johannesburg Arts Centre
When: Tomorrow 7.30pm; Friday: 7.30pm; Saturday: 3pm and 7.30pm; Sunday: 3pm.
Ends November 26 at 3pm
It's been quite a year for this tiny classical company with big aspirations. Since its Market Theatre premiere in February Ballet Theatre Afrikan's Just so… The Cat who walked through Kipling has left innovative tracks around the country.
Now, for the second year running, BTA is back at the University of Johannesburg (a perfectly intimate venue tailor-made for ballet connoisseurs) staying true to its classical roots with a neo-classical twist.
A media preview of this festive bauble of a programme revealed an ensemble of dancers willing, and in the most part, able to conquer some refreshingly pure, well produced, choreography as showcased in Act 1.
Yolandi Olckers and Thoriso Magongwa measure up to the technical finesse and artistic elegance required of the charming Grand pas Classique. Equally engaging, in an old-fashioned way, is "Markitenka" Saint Leon's pas de deux and pas de six.
The eye-openers of the evening are undoubtedly two male aspirant dancers
. Andile Ndlovu (who is developing a sublime partnership with Carmen Harris) impresses in Le Corsaire and Bathembu Myria steps out of corps de ballet anonymity to demand attention in an aggressive Gopak solo.
The revival of the fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company's 1995 hit South African version of A Midsummer Night's Dream (never performed in Johannesburg) is a daring one. Mark Hawkins's edgy humour and Andrew Botha's acid trip designs remain a delight.
Using the Mendelssohn score (immortalised on the ballet stage by Frederick Ashton) the witty choreography condenses the Shakespeare text to the barest of bones while retaining the Mechanicals. These workshopped roles are marvellously performed by Durban's Actors Co-op. Take a bow Garth Anderson (Francis Flute), Tessa Jubber (Petra Quince) and Alastair Coldwell (Bottom).
Magongwa turns Puck into a tall, regal, impish spirit while Olckers radiates delicacy and Kitty Phetla promises to be a desperately comic Helena. The company needs to loosen up and meld their engrained classicism with a more contemporary dynamic and satiric campness.
That's what this work demands. Then much fun can be had by all.
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