Carmen returns to Joburg

In November 2009, the SABT Board and Management announced that, although debt free, the company was facing financial challenges. Patrons rallied to keep the art of classical ballet alive and a total of R5 million was raised (50 percent of which came from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF). Corporate South Africa also contributed with Air Products South Africa and the National Arts Council (NAC) coming on board.

As a result, The South African Ballet Theatre is able to present "Carmen-the Ballet", which runs at the Joburg Theatre for a season of 18 performances. The full-length ballet has not been seen on a Johannesburg stage since 2003. This 2010 season has been slightly shortened and will run for two hours 15 minutes.

A fiery love story

First presented by SABT at the SA State Theatre in Pretoria in 2001, the saga of Carmen and Don José is a fiery love story based on an original by French writer Prosper Mérimée and later adapted as an opera - one of the most famous and well-loved in the world - by Georges Bizet. Using Bizet's famous score, Paeper's ballet explores the tempestuous relationship between the streetwise Carmen and the young officer Don José.

Patrons can look forward to seeing the local talent of SABT's resident stars, guest artists from Cape Town City Ballet as well as international guest artists Adam Thurlow and Dirk Weyershausen.

Tickets prices vary from R105 to R290 with discounts for SABT Friends, block bookings and selected corporate companies.

Schools Performances: Tues 17 and 24 August at 11am - all tickets R50.

Bookings through Computicket on +27 (0)83 915 8000 or + 27 (0)11 877 6898 or go to www.saballettheatre.co.za for further details.