Latest news with #Coppélia
The Herald
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald
‘Coppélia' ballet thrills Durban audience
The ballet Coppélia thrilled the audience at the Durban Playhouse on Saturday. The show tells a sweet story about love, fun and magic that everyone can enjoy. Presented by The Playhouse Company, the performance features the talented Cape Town City Ballet, with music by the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra. Kirstél Paterson stars as the lively Swanhilda, Jordan Roelfze plays the charming Franz and Leusson Muniz is Dr Coppélius, the quirky inventor. Conductor Brandon Phillips led the orchestra, adding beautiful music and feeling to every scene. Hannah Ward appeared as Prayer. In some shows, Maryana Pobuta played Swanhilda, Axton Green was Franz, and Caitlin Smith took on Prayer.
TimesLIVE
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
‘Coppélia' ballet thrills Durban audience
The ballet Coppélia thrilled the audience at the Durban Playhouse on Saturday. The show tells a sweet story about love, fun and magic that everyone can enjoy. Presented by The Playhouse Company, the performance features the talented Cape Town City Ballet, with music by the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra. Kirstél Paterson stars as the lively Swanhilda, Jordan Roelfze plays the charming Franz and Leusson Muniz is Dr Coppélius, the quirky inventor. Conductor Brandon Phillips led the orchestra, adding beautiful music and feeling to every scene. Hannah Ward appeared as Prayer. In some shows, Maryana Pobuta played Swanhilda, Axton Green was Franz, and Caitlin Smith took on Prayer. Coppélia mixes classic dance with humour and emotion, making it a joyful live show. Set in a busy European village, the ballet tells a story about mistaken identity, young love and a lifelike doll causing playful trouble. Full of humour and heart, Coppélia continues to charm audiences of all ages with its magical story and classic style.
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Experience the magic of dance and comedy at Durban's upcoming arts events
Durban is set to be a vibrant hotspot for the arts with two exhilarating productions sure to captivate audiences of all ages. "Coppélia" Featuring the Cape Town City Ballet in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, this production promises to charm families and seasoned dance enthusiasts. The story steeped in mischief and magic and revolves around the youthful exuberance of Franz, who finds himself torn between his fiancée, Swanilda and the mysterious doll-maker, Dr. Coppelius, who has crafted a life-like doll named Coppélia. The ballet unfolds as a tale of love, jealousy and the quest for identity, weaving together poignant moments and comedic interludes that highlight the richness of human emotion. This production is ideal for both families looking for an engaging cultural experience and lovers of the ballet seeking a heartfelt narrative. Where: Playhouse Opera Theatre, Durban central. When: Saturday, May 31 at 2pm and 7pm. Upcoming:
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Local aspiring ballerina lands role in prestigious production
A LOCAL young ballerina is set to take centre stage after being selected to perform in a prestigious national ballet company's upcoming production. Amelie Short successfully auditioned for a role in English Youth Ballet (EYB)'s upcoming production of Coppélia. After competing in highly selective auditions last November, the dedicated young performer earned her place in the elite 82-strong cast, sharing the stage with internationally acclaimed professional dancers. The 13-year-old from Stourbridge is currently experiencing firsthand what it means to be a professional dancer, taking part in rigorous daily rehearsals that include intensive ballet training and coaching from industry professionals. Amelie, who trains at the Rachel Dixon School of Dance in Kingswinford, said: 'I started dancing when I was 2 years old. Amelie Short trains at Rachel Dixon School of Dance (Image: Ben Garner) 'My mom took me as I loved to dance to music. I just love to dance. It keeps me fit, has given me the confidence to perform, and I've got a great dance family at Rachel Dixon School of Dance. 'This is my second time dancing with EYB, and I'm hoping that I'm able to improve my pointe work alongside learning a new ballet and making new friends.' Coppélia follows the story of Franz, who becomes smitten with a mysterious, life-like doll created by Dr. Coppelius, but when Franz's sweetheart, Swanhilda, uncovers the truth, chaos and comedy ensue. EYB Principal Ann Wall, who will play the role of Swanhilda, said: "Teaching these young dancers is incredibly rewarding. Watching them develop new skills, gain confidence, and bring their artistry to life on stage is magical. "They remind me why I dance – to bring joy, to feel joy, and to connect through dance." Amelie will take to the stage alongside some of the best ballerinas in the industry at the Shrewsbury Theatre Severn on April 25 and 26.
New York Times
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
New York City Ballet's New Season: Premieres, a Revival, a Retirement
In its 2025-26 season, New York City Ballet will welcome one dancer, Ryan Tomash, and bid farewell to another, Megan Fairchild, who will depart after 25 years with the company. 'Megan is absolutely beloved by every single person here within our institution,' Wendy Whelan, City Ballet's associate artistic director, said. 'She'll be a huge loss for us, just in every way — as an artist, as a mentor, as just a kind, humane presence. She's a gem; that's all I can say.' Jonathan Stafford, the company's artistic director, added that Fairchild was one of the rare dancers to have been a principal for more than 20 years. 'She's just had this longevity in her career at the highest level,' he said. New York City Ballet's 2025-26 season, the company announced Monday, will feature four world premieres; the return of George Balanchine's 'Symphonie Concertante,' last performed by the company in 1952; and two story ballets: 'The Sleeping Beauty' and 'Coppélia.' The new works will be by Jamar Roberts (Oct. 8); Justin Peck (Jan. 29), City Ballet's resident choreographer; Alexei Ratmansky (Feb. 5), the company's artist in residence; and Tiler Peck (May 7), a principal dancer. The season opens Sept. 16 with two all-Balanchine programs: The first features his one-act 'Swan Lake,' along with 'Donizetti Variations' and 'Ballade'; the second has 'Square Dance,' 'Episodes' and 'Western Symphony.' Also in fall, Tomash, now a principal dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet, will make his debut with the company as a soloist. The winter season, in addition to the two world premieres, will feature Jerome Robbins's 'Antique Epigraphs,' and a 14-performance run of Peter Martins's 'The Sleeping Beauty,' one of the company's largest productions, with more than 100 dancers, including students from the School of American Ballet. Story ballets, Stafford said, 'are really important access points to an audience that maybe isn't aware of what New York City Ballet is, or even what classical ballet is.' He added that audiences might be more inclined to see something they know, like a familiar fairy tale. Other season highlights include company premieres of Justin Peck's 'Heatscape' (Sept. 25), created for Miami City Ballet in 2015; and Christopher Wheeldon's 'Continuum' (May 1), set to Ligeti, and created for San Francisco Ballet in 2002. The season will close with 'Coppélia,' which will include Fairchild's farewell performance (May 24). 'We do a lot of ballets every year,' Stafford said, 'but this season feels especially bountiful in terms of new opportunities that will be offered to our current roster dancers.' A full lineup can be found at
