Beloved ballet classic 'Giselle' comes to the Baxter

The much-loved classical ballet Giselle will be on the boards at the Baxter for a limited run, opening on Thursday (13 November).

It's presented by the new company Cape Ballet Africa, who worked closely on the production with internationally renowned choreographer Maina Gielgud.

Saskia Falken (in for Sara-Jayne Makwala King) chats to Debbie Turner, company founder and artistic director, and dancer Mia Coomber.

Cape Ballet Africa made its debut with Salt at the Baxter in September last year.

Turner said that Giselle is the kind of quintessential romantic ballet a fledgling company should really start with.

"Timeless is an overused word these days, but it truly is.... There is something so PURE about Giselle, and it's also one of the traditional classics that has a smaller demand from a cast point of view, than a Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty which requires s a cast of 60-plus."

While Cape Ballet Africa is still young, its dancers have a wealth ofexperience, noted Turner.

She was most recently CEO and artistic director of Cape Town City Ballet, which she left in 2023.

After taking a recuperative break, Turner was inspired to start the new company as "a final project I could throw my heart and soul into".

She is passionate about developing young South African ballet dancers, as well as talent from other countries on the continent.

"That's one thing we're not short of in this country is extreme talent, in every artistic direction. I want to provide a cradle for the development of that talent and grow it. That is the exciting journey Mia Coomber is on - she's in the prime of her career as a ballet dancer and I know how special it is for her to be opening in the character of Giselle on Thursday night."

Both Turner and Coomber highlight the incredible experience of collaborating with choreographer and former ballerina Maina Gielgud.

Working with her for the fourth time now, Turner said what draws her to this international dance figure is not only her knowledge of the classical ballet itself, but her theatrical knowledge. Gielgud comes from a family of actors and is famously the niece of John Gielgud.  

"The dramatic knowledge and gems of information that she gives the dancers is incredible, particularly that she does not work with Mia in her interpretation of Giselle the same way she works with Leanè Theunissen or Paige McElligott (who also alternate in the lead role)"

"Gielgud tries to take what is inside Mia and slowly encourages this to the outside, so that her interpretation will be different to the other two even though the story is the same - the human being informs the art."

Coomber described Giselle as a dream role that she's excited to step into, and highlights what an honour it has been to be coached by Gielgud.

"It's a demanding role, because you have to be so invested in your character and the acting, and you're on stage 80-90% of the time. We've been rehearsing eight hours a day."

Giselle is on at the Baxter's Pam Golding Theatre from 13-22 November.

Tickets are available at Webtickets.

To listen to Debbie Turner and Mia Coomber in conversation with Saskia Falken on CapeTalk's Weekend Breakfast, click on the audio link below: