Graham masterpiece comes to Cape Town

Cape Town audiences will see Martha Graham’s “Diversion of Angels” performed in South Africa for the first time when the SANDT Legacy of Dance Gala takes place at the Artscape Opera House this weekend.

Presented by arrangement with Martha Graham Resources, the work will be danced by WGRUV, with award-winning Lorenzo Pagano, resident rehearsal director of the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York, featuring in the programme.

Dutch National Ballet dancers Maia Makhateli and Jan Špunda will perform the Act III pas de deux from “Swan Lake”, alongside “Embers”, choreographed by the company’s artistic director, Ernst Meisner.

The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany both performances under conductor Brandon Phillips.

The international guests join performers from Cape Town City Ballet, Joburg Ballet, Cape Ballet Africa, Jazzart Dance Theatre and local training institutions.

A finale choreographed by Sean Bovim to Queen’s Barcelona will feature soprano Busisiwe Ngejane and singer Warren Vernon-Driscoll.

Performances take place on Saturday, 24 October, at 7.30pm and Sunday, 25 October, at 2.30pm.

Sources: BroadwayWorld, 19 October; Artslink, 20 October.