Cape Ballet Africa (CBA) will present a new quadruple bill at the Baxter from 3 to 11 October 2026, titled Elysium.
Elysium brings together four diverse ballets by celebrated choreographers George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, Kenneth Tindall and Michelle Reid, each offering a unique perspective on the human experience.
Through contrasting choreography, music, and artistic styles, Elysium creates a rich and inspiring ballet experience, exploring themes of love, resilience, transformation and joy, celebrated through the range, beauty and emotional depth of ballet.
“Elysiummarks two years since CBA debuted our inaugural production SALT at The Baxter,” says Debbie Turner, Artistic Director and Founder of Cape Ballet Africa.
“There have been many exciting developments since then and we are happy to be back on The Baxter stage with this captivating quadruple bill. The programme includes two new works created for the Company by extraordinary South African choreographer Michelle Reid and UK based, internationally acclaimed Kenneth Tindall.”
Elysium programme
Opening the programme is George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, a joyous celebration of expansive romanticism, set to Tchaikovsky’s soaring Piano Concerto No. 3. It was originally staged for CBA by Diana White of the George Balanchine Trust, who has spent her lifetime studying, performing, staging and coaching Balanchine’s works. Balanchine famously said Allegro Brillante “contains everything I knew about classical ballet.”
Next up, CBA presents Nacho Duato’s Remanso, performed to Poetic Waltzes by celebrated Spanish composer Enrique Granados. First performed by the Company as part of their production Breathwords, with the support of the Embassy of Spain in Pretoria and the Spanish Consulate in Cape Town, this ballet returns due to the overwhelming response it received here.
We Met At The Moon, Briefly is award-winning choreographer Kenneth Tindall’s newly commissioned work for CBA. Says Tindall: “The work has been created with the tools of all that are involved, the elements in the environment, and the very place itself – Cape Town. It’s a physically demanding, very beautiful ballet, full of sculpture. It’s classical, performed en pointe, but reinventing, innovating to create something different.”
Closing Elysium is Michelle Reid’s Duende, set to music by guitarist and composer Estas Tonne.
“When used in everyday modern language, the word Duende is used to describe someone who possesses a magnetic, inexplicable personal charm, charisma or allure,” says Reid. “When I found the music by chance, it was a very interesting sound for me as I have never worked with Spanish guitar before. I feel in love with it and could see something fun and exciting could be created.”
What: Elysium Cape Ballet
Where and when: The Baxter from 3 to 11 October 2026
Tickets: Webtickets
WS
