Local Coppélia on the big screen

This 2009 production stars SABT principal dancers Burnise Silvius as Swanhilda, Anya Carstens as Dawn, character artist Jacob Mosehla as Dr Coppelius, and guest artist Michael Revie as Franz. The production was filmed at the Promusica Theatre in Roodepoort.

Trish Downing, Ster-Kinekor Theatres' senior marketing & communications manager, said: "This is the perfect production to launch a South African ballet production into our 'ballet on screen' series. It is a ballet treat for the whole family to enjoy, with magnificent choreography and costumes, and stellar performances from many of the country's most admired dancers.

Developing an audience appetite

"It has always been Cinema Nouveau's intention with its 'live on screen' productions, that we stimulate an interest in, and support for, local productions, through developing an audience appetite for these performing arts. We hope that by screening this production in cinema, which is in many ways a more accessible medium than stage, we grow new ballet-loving audiences across the country to the benefit of the entire dance-related community in the country."

Fiona Budd, MD of SABT said: "Coppélia is SABT's first full-length professionally filmed ballet production. It was filmed in front of a live audience by Izithombe TV Productions and also features an appearance by some of the students of SABT's Outreach Programmes in Act 3 of the ballet. We are extremely proud to be able to make this beautiful art form accessible to all South Africans through the Ster-Kinekor Cinema Nouveau screenings."

Outreach Programme

Revenues which SABT derives from screening this production in cinema will contribute to its funding of future ballet productions as well as its Outreach Programme, which is active in Mamelodi, Alexandra, Soweto and Melville with over 250 dancers being taught afternoon ballet classes on a bi-weekly basis.

Coppélia will be releasing exclusively at SK Cinema Nouveau theatres nationwide from Friday, 8 October at:
* Cinema Nouveau Rosebank (Joburg)
* Cinema Nouveau Bedford Centre, Bedfordview (Joburg)
* Cinema Nouveau Brooklyn Mall (Pretoria)
* Cinema Nouveau Cavendish Square (Cape Town)
* Cinema Nouveau V&A Waterfront (Cape Town)
* Cinema Nouveau Gateway (Durban)

Stills from the production and full production notes are available for download via Theatres offers customers multiple booking and information-gathering options, including online bookings, either on your WAP-enabled cellphone or via [[www.sterkinekor.com or by calling TicketLine on +27 (0)82 16789, or book in cinema at the self service terminals (SSTs) or Box Offices.