Dancing with the stars

Artistic director Debbie Turner has commissioned two new works for this Artscape season. Canadian choreographer Joshua Beamish has created a ballet distinctively different from any other in the company's current repertoire. "KeepCover exists as a snapshot of a collective of individuals at a moment in time," Beamish says. "As this is my first creation in South Africa, one could suggest that it lives as an outsider's eye into the world I have found here."

Beamish developed the work as he surveyed the CDC dancers in their interactions, and challenged the ways that they could relate to one another physically. Beamish added that he was "blown away" by CDC's ability to replicate the complex pathways of his vocabulary with remarkable precision and he was deeply inspired by the artists' personal strengths and vulnerabilities.

Modern, minimalist, architectural ballet

The critically acclaimed Scenes by Bradley Shelver, performed in CDC's 2012 season, also forms a part of this year's offerings. Shelver defines his ballet as "the location of events that attract attention through a series of actions exhibited in their connection".

A modern, minimalist, architectural ballet in four parts written to the compositions of Gallasso, Bach, Beethoven and Riley, Scenes was inspired by the process of creativity, the elements involved in displaying or manifesting art. The ballet subtly reveals the layers of creating emotional connections with the stage, framed by observers that demarcate the space. It is a scene within a scene, observed by both audience and performer. Costumes designed by Dicky Longhurst in slate grey, compliment the minimalist theme.

Captivating score by Maurice Ravel

The repertoire also marks the return of Christopher L Huggins, who stages his third work for CDC. Entitled Bolero, it is set to the captivating score composed by Maurice Ravel. The music is calmingly repetitive and hypnotic and the ballet showcases skilled partnering, Spanish flair and exciting pas de deux, which are signatures of this work. Bolero has been described as a "red-hot exploration of the push-and-pull between the sexes".

Dancers for this season include guest artist and former Cape Town City Ballet principal ballerina Megan Swart, CDC founding member Louisa Talbot, James Bradley, Grant Van Ster, Shaun Oelf, Tamryn van Houten, Marlin Zoutman, Elzanne Crause, Mthuthuzeli November and Lee Fennell, who has recently returned from dancing in Germany for several years. Alice Godfrey, who has recently joined the National Ballet School of Canada on a full scholarship, also performs in Cadence, after which she returns to Toronto in January 2014.

Creating new works every year

CDC was established in 1995 under the direction of Debbie Turner. Initially a youth dance company, it has progressed into a fully-fledged project-based professional neo-classical dance company, having impressed audiences worldwide and earned their prestigious reputation. The company has performed choreographic works created by acclaimed international choreographers such as Joshua Beamish (Canada), Christopher L Huggins (USA), Carlos Dos Santos (Brazil), Michael Thomas (USA), Redha (France), as well as Bradley Shelver, David Krugel, Michelle Reid, Alfred Hinkel, Adele Blank, Sbonakaliso Indaba, Mamela Nyamza, Gregory Maqoma, Kitty Phetla, Tebogo Kgobokoe and Sean Bovim from South Africa.

CDC is committed to creating new works every year and, while the repertoire of the company is diverse, the work is strongly based in the classical idiom. The company is committed to providing high quality dance performances that showcase skilled artists presenting appealing and engaging choreographies of a standard in keeping with the international profile and quality of the beautiful city of Cape Town.

Cadence is at Cape Town's Artscape Theatre until 7 December. Tickets are available from Computicket or +27 (0)21 4217695. For more information, go to www.capedancecompany.co.za.