The Johannesburg Youth Ballet will present "Hansel and Gretel" from August 16 to 19 at the UJ Arts Centre Theatre in South Africa.
The Youth Ballet group's newly commissioned ballet features choreography by Mark Hawkins, original musical score by Nik Sakellarides and the costume design by Andrew Botha to depict the heart-lifting story with the thrilling set and music.
"We're not softening it for kids - without losing innocence or naiveté - we know that the children of today want to be scared, or rather, demand to be scared," said Hawkins, the choreographer.
"A cardboard cut-out one-dimensional witch with a long nose won't raise their fear monitor!" Hawkins added.
Based on the 200-year-old fairy tale by Brothers' Grimm with the same title, "Hansel and Gretel" stars ballet dancers Thula Cruikshank and Lwazi Mzimase as Hansel and Jaimee Mills, Megan Meyer, and Aviva Sher as Gretel.
The Johannesburg Youth Ballet, founded in 1976 by Audrey King, currently has 55 talented young dancers with ages ranging from 13 to early twenties.
© 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
