Dancing, wine go hand-in-hand

"The wines represent earthly beauty and fluid grace, which is synonymous with ballet dancers,” added Basson.

Negotiations are in place to ensure that the wines will be presented at SABT's opening nights, as well as at special studio tastings and SABT events. Ormonde Private Cellars Alexanderfontein label was the official wine for the Springbok's, British Lions Tour in 2009.

Dinners at Le Canard

To celebrate the SABT's ninth birthday, there will be a series of intimate ballet dinners, beginning with the "Gala Dinner in Nine Acts" on 9 February 2010. To be held at Le Canard Restaurant in Sandton, another 2010 SABT partner, the multi-course menu will be paired with performances by the stars of the SABT. The served wines will be from the Ondine range, whose Chenin Blanc and Merlot recently won Veritas Gold Medals.

Iain Macdonald, artistic director of SABT, says that the “perfection of our ballet and the perfection of Le Canard, go hand in hand, like a perfect pas de deux.”

Chef-Patron of Le Canard, Freda Appelbaum, points out that “as a fundraising initiative, for every bottle sold, we have agreed that a portion of sales will go directly to SABT. We are honoured that in 2010, our 21st birthday year, we are to be involved closely with them and honoured too that we are the only venue in the country privileged to present the entire range of all eight Ondine wine varietals.”

Outreaches to benefit

SABT is actively involved in a number of outreach projects, taking ballet to communities that have not necessarily been exposed to its magic. SABT performs for, teaches and educates these communities and exposes the children living there to the potential career opportunities within the theatre. The Le Canard/SABT fundraising projects will help ensure the success of these programmes, as well as the full time employment of SABT staff and performers.

“With all the excitement of the SABT partnership we simply cannot wait till next year to start the fundraising projects and so we have decided to launch the initiative immediately. Our guests are thrilled," says Chet Diepraam, manager of Le Canard.

Budd concludes by saying that “SABT and Le Canard have a series of really wonderful dinner productions planned for next year. One or two may be a bit cheeky, and we guarantee that all will be enjoyed by lovers of fine ballet, fine wine and fine cuisine.”