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Barbara Loots
I GOT RHYTHM, Cape Town City Ballet’s latest offering in celebration of the company’s 90th year, is currently onstage at the Artscape Oprea House until 26 May 2024. It’s a vibrant celebration of the music of George Gershwin through dance.
The story behind I GOT RHYTHM is described as follows: “It is the age of Jazz, blues, movies, musicals, and irresistible glamour. Women are chic and sassy, romanced by smooth sophisticated men. There is an intoxicating whirl of parties, champagne, dancing and wild youth.” This celebration of the Roaring Twenties is explored through a “fusion of skillful and exuberant dance, live music and vocal performances”, all packaged in the cherished melodies of George Gershwin.
The collaboration between Cape Town City Ballet and the Jazzart Company does credit to the musical vision of Gershwin. The overall feel of the production empowers the dancers to lean into the jazz undertones of Gershwin's creations with more freedom than one associates with classical ballet. The whole production is further elevated with the onstage presence of the Cape Philharmonic, adding the big band magic. The Cape Town Opera Guest Artists further spice up the show with their beautiful vocals .
As always, the production offers strong and mesmerizing performances by Kristél Paterson, Leanè Theunisen, Paige McElligott and Leausson Muniz. The numbers performed by McElligott and Jordan Roelfze (“Preludes”), Axton Green and Elvis Nonjeke (“I Got Rhythm”), and Paterson and Muniz (“Man I Love”) are particular highlights that celebrate both the beauty, technique, and exceptional control that ballet calls for. The pair of Theunissen and David Webb also shines in the “Cuban Overture”, as they dance alongside couples from the Jazzart Company, leaning into the sultry movements with flair. The Orchestra’s take on the symphonic poem that is the “Cuban Overture” is truly lovely.
Here and there the ballet chorus may be a bit out of sync, but the enthusiasm and clear love for the art of dance makes up for a lot. The company seems to be on the right artistic trajectory with David Nixon CBE as artistic director.
The last time I saw the Cape Town City Ballet company onstage was during their Christmas offering, and I commented then that the technique was there but the required vibrancy of performance was absent, almost as if the dancers were only going through the motions but with little love for the craft. The presence of a fresh approach by the recently appointed artistic director is showing in I GOT RHYTHM: the eyes along with the feet of the dancers are once again vibrating with joy. The Cape Town City Ballet Company, in celebration of their 90th year, is getting a new lease on life. I look forward to seeing where their renewed vigor takes them with Nixon’s vision.
I GOT RHYTHM is an artistic collaboration success story. It seems Cape Town City Ballet is well underway to rekindling the spark of ballet with a beat in their 90th year.
You have until 28 May 2024 to catch I GOT RHYTHM at the Artscape Opera House. Tickets can be booked online through Webtickets.