Artscape Opera House, Cape Philharmonic
Friday night I enjoyed Cape Town City Ballet’s (CTCB) production of Swan Lake at the Artscape Opera House. It was the last performance (sold out) of a limited production which began August 19. Cape Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied the dancers and did a fantastic job performing Tchaikovsky’s dramatic score (BIG smile).
Dancers
The guest dancers were English National Ballet principal ballerina Daria Klimentova and Russian-born Vadim Muntagirov. Klimentova was born in the Czech Republic. She trained at the Prague State Conservatory and danced with Prague’s National Theatre Ballet Company. In 1992 she joined CTCB as a principal dancer and later moved to London to join the English National Ballet Company as a senior principal ballerina.
Daria is very popular in South Africa and has a large enthusiastic following in Cape Town. Klimentova’s partner, Vadim Muntagirov, is the latest dance sensation in Europe. He trained at the Perm Ballet School in Russia and the Royal Ballet School in London. Both of his parents were principal dancers with the prestigious Russian Chelyabinsk Ballet Company. Muntagirov joined the English National Ballet Company in 2009 where he is first soloist.
Cape Town City Ballet
The CTCB formed in 1934 at the University of Cape Town and is internationally renowned for its diverse repertoire. At 77 it’s South Africa’s oldest professional ballet company. The dancers are praised for their energy and style. For the final performance the lead dancers were Cape Town’s own Laura Bosenberg (Princess Odette) – principal dancer CTCB – and Thomas Thorne (Prince Siegfried) – CTCB soloist. They both danced beautifully!
