Swan Lake opened on March 12th at the Joburg Theatre to a capacity house, VIP guests bid farewell to long - standing Chairman Mr Don MacRobert at a private function before the performance.

Well known faces were spotted in the audience: (main) Ally, Gemma & Don MacRobert
(t.right) Grant & Bev Rogerson
(middle) Khanyi Dhlomo, Penny Ndlela & Swaady Martin
(b.left) Elsa Lakic & Irma Smit
(b.right) Cedric Ntumba, Jena Mukina, Thembi Radebe & Lala Sepeng

SABT Members Yolandi Olckers, Guy Wheatstone and Thabani Ntuli (seen here in costume for 'Swan Lake') proudly promote the YOU MAKE JOBURG GREAT campaign

SABT and the Mapungubwe Hotel Apartments hosted the first of a series of Business Breakfasts on Tuesday February 23rd. Guests were treated to a hearty breakfast in an informal, relaxed environment while guest speaker MEC for Finance Mr Gladstone Nkomfe encouraged ventures and partnerships between the different sectors in the inner city.

The next Business Breakfast will be on April 20th.

On Sunday, February 13, The SABT Academy hosted guest teacher Mr Vladimri Isaaev at the SABT studios. 65 dancers from both the Academy and various private studios attended the Vaganova classes.

On Wednesday, February 17, it was announced that the long-standing Chairman of The South African Ballet Theatre Board Mr Don MacRobert would be stepping down from the position which he has held for the past nine years. Mr Cedric Ntumba, a member of The SABT Board, was appointed as the new Chairman.

As founding Chairman of SABT, Mr MacRobert was instrumental in establishing the SABT and growing it into the country's largest professional ballet company.

Mr MacRobert obtained his BA LLB Degrees at UCT; was called to the Bar in the UK, through Grays Inn, and then qualified as a patent attorney (FSAIPA). He was also the founder Chairman of the Lawyers for Human Rights movement in Pretoria. Mr MacRobert was President of the Pretoria Chamber of Commerce and served on various ASSOCOM sub-committees. He currently serves on the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris and is a past President of the Licensing Executive Society (SA), and also served on the Credit Committee of Investec, and now serves on the Credit Committee of IDC. Mr MacRobert practised for 17 years with Adams & Adams, in Pretoria, having become a registered patent agent and then moved on to handle a range of high court litigation matters mainly in the trademarks and common law (passing off) areas. After working in Soweto, he was invited to join Edward Nathan Sonnenberg. Mr MacRobert has pioneered several educational initiatives in previously disadvantaged areas such as the Get Ahead Foundation. He was honoured with the Paul Harris Award from Rotary International and Archbishop Desmond Tutu conferred on him the St Michael's Award at the Michaelhouse Centenary celebrations.

He is at present a consultant to Edward Nathan Sonnenberg, corporate lawyers, as well as Adams & Adams, Intellectual Property lawyers. He co-authored the South African version of the lay person's guide to intellectual property, from Edison to iPod.

Acknowledging Mr MacRobert's contribution towards keeping classical ballet alive, SABT Artistic Director Mr Iain MacDonald said "we, at SABT, have travelled a long journey filled with many challenges, excitement and success - Mr MacRobert has been with us every step of this journey and we acknowledge his unflappable support of the Company as well as his wise counsel and leadership".

Mr MacRobert will be presented with the inaugural SABT Lifetime Honary Membership award during the upcoming season of Swan Lake at the Joburg Theatre. This Lifetime Membership Award will be presented to individuals who have given tremendous support to SABT and Mr MacRobert will be the first inductee.

As SABT's new Chairman, Mr Cedric Ntumba brings his extensive business and financial experience to the position. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Directors. Mr Ntumba also forms part of the finance and deal teams at Capitalworks Investment Partners, a private equity house.

Mr Ntumba has significant Board experience in both the private and public sectors. Some of his responsibilities include the following: He sits on the Board of Directors of the Railway Safety Regulator, a department of Transport institution, where he is a member of its audit committee and chairs its finance and procurement committee. Our Parliament has recently extended his term for a further 3 years on this Board. Of late, he was a member of the Audit Committee of the Gauteng Provincial Treasury. He also chairs the Audit Committee of the Energy Sector Education and Training Authority.

He obtained his professional qualifications with Deloitte and Touche Southern Africa and went on to be involved in numerous leadership development programmes including the Gordon Institute of Business Science 's Dialogue Circle, the African Leadership Academy Mentorship initiative and the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa JHB (ABASA) - where he co-founded the ABASA Leadership Programme and was the body's Board Vice-Chairman.

Mr MacRobert said "I wish all the best to Mr Ntumba in his new role as Chairman of the Board and I believe that he is well equipped to take this organization forward". Mr Ntumba has received the full support of the Board.

By the end of December 2009 an amount of R1.9 million had been raised, in addition to the R2 million that had already been previously committed to the SABT for 2010. However a further R4 million is needed to enable the SABT to continue with operations as normal and in order for SABT to continue to present world-class productions as well as to maintain the development programmes running in Mamelodi, Eersterus, Katlehong, Alexandra and Soweto.

Thus in December, following a consultation process, SABT Management were obliged to issue Section 189 letters to all staff and several staff received notice of their retrenchment. The affected staff will be ad-hoced back for the SABT's March/April production of Swan Lake - however, should the necessary additional funding not have been sourced by April 2010 these staff will then be unemployed and further restructuring will need to be explored.
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On November 10 2009, The South African Ballet Theatre (SABT) announced that although debt-free, it is facing severe financial challenges and, if substantial immediate funding is not found, then the Board will have to take robust action to preserve the integrity of the Company.

Despite these trying times, SABT is determined to continue presenting world class productions and is therefore pleased to announce a special early-bird double deal on ticket prices to two of its seasons for 2010 - the ideal Christmas gift for ballet lovers!

Patrons who book for both SABT's Swan Lake and their Carmen season at the Joburg Theatre will pay a lower combined-rate price for their tickets.

The first season is the world's best - known ballet, Swan Lake. The Swan Lake season will be performed at the Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein from March 12 to April 4 2010. Dating back to 1876, the tragic love story of the swan maiden Odette and Prince Siegfried has proved itself to be the one of the most endearing ballets in the repertoire with audiences around the world. The South African Ballet Theatre's production will take its cue from the traditional Petipa version of the ballet whilst incorporating fresh elements tailored to suit the Company. The ballet will have a shorter running time and there will be only one interval.

Wednesday and Thursday evening performances of SABT's 2010 Joburg Theatre seasons will start at 19h30 instead of the usual 20h00, to enable patrons to have an enjoyable night at the theatre yet not get home too late during the week.

A Swan Lake Open Day will be presented on Saturday 27 February 2010, starting at 10h00 and ending at 13h00. Open Days at the SABT's Braamfontein studios are a rare opportunity for the public to catch a glimpse into the behind the scenes preparations for a season.

Booking for Open Day are already open with Mr Edgar Moagi on + 27 11 877 6898 or email admin@saballettheatre.co.za. The cost is R60 per person.

The ballet Carmen returns to Johannesburg, after a seven year absence, from August 13 to 29 2010. The fiery saga of Carmen and Don José comes to the stage in a sensual version by acclaimed Cape Town choreographer Veronica Paeper. Set to Bizet's famous music score, Paeper's ballet explores the volatile relationship between the streetwise Carmen and young officer Don José who loses his heart to Carmen. Paeper's Carmen captures the passion of southern Spain in a ballet highlighted by spectacular pas de deux for the principal dancers plus showpieces for the corps de ballet of matadors, smugglers, fiesta ladies and gypsies.

A Carmen Open Day will be presented on Saturday 31 July 2010, from 10h00 to 13h00. The cost is R60 per person

Booking for both Open Days as well as the combined ticket offer for Swan Lake and Carmen seasons are open with Mr Moagi on + 27 11 877 6898 or email admin@saballettheatre.co.za.

General bookings for Swan Lake and Carmen are open through Computicket and include 10% discounts for block bookings of ten tickets or more, plus student and pensioner discounts upon presentation of a valid student or pensioner's card.

In what is the first endorsement agreement of its kind in South Africa, The South African Ballet Theatre (SABT) announced yesterday that it has appointed Ondine as the company's official wine.

Fiona Budd, co-Director of SABT, the country's largest professional ballet company, released information on the 2010 partnerships with both Ondine and Le Canard Restaurant in Sandton. An initiative will be put into action between SABT and the restaurant, and "will involve awareness and fundraising campaigns to celebrate the Company's ninth birthday in 2010". This will include a series of intimate Ballet Dinners, beginning with the "Gala Dinner in Nine Acts" in February, featuring a multi-course menu paired with performances by the stars of the SABT. The served wines will be from the Ondine range, whose Chenin Blanc and Merlot recently won Veritas Gold Medals.

Iain Macdonald, Artistic Director of SABT, a non-profit making organisation, says that the "perfection of our ballet and the perfection of Le Canard, go hand in hand, like a perfect pas de deux."

Theo Basson, owner and co-winemaker of Ormonde Private Cellar on the West Coast, who produce the award-winning Ondine, is delighted that the wine has been chosen by SABT. "Our Ondine wines are named after the ballet of the same name, choreographed specially for legendary ballerina Margot Fonteyn, by Sir Frederick Ashton. The wines represent earthly beauty and fluid grace, which is synonymous with ballet dancers", says Basson.

Negotiations are in place to ensure that the wines will be presented at SABT's Opening Nights, as well as at special studio tastings and SABT events.

Chef-Patron of Le Canard, Freda Appelbaum, points out that "as a fundraising initiative, for every bottle sold, we have agreed that a portion of sales will go directly to The SABT. We are honoured that in 2010, our 21st birthday year, we are to be involved closely with the SABT, and honoured too that we are the only venue in the country privileged to present the entire range of all eight Ondine wine varietals."

SABT are actively involved in a number of outreach projects, taking the art form to communities that have not necessarily been exposed to the magic of ballet. SABT performs for, teaches and educates these communities and exposes the children living there to the potential career opportunities within the theatre. The Le Canard/SABT fundraising projects will help ensure the success of these programmes, as well as the full time employment of SABT staff and performers.

"With all the excitement of the SABT partnership we simply cannot wait till next year to start the fundraising projects, and so we have decided to launch the initiative immediately. Our guests are very thrilled." says Chet Diepraam, manager of Le Canard. Budd concludes by saying that "SABT and Le Canard have a series of really wonderful dinner productions planned for next year. One or two may be a bit cheeky, and we guarantee that all will be enjoyed by lovers of fine ballet, fine wine and fine cuisine."

Ormonde Private Cellars Alexanderfontein label was the official wine for the Springbok's, British Lions Tour in 2009.

The "Gala Dinner in Nine Acts" happens on 9 February 2010, in celebration of the ballet company's 9th birthday.

For further information, please contact Adele le Roux: Marketing Manager at Ormonde Private Cellar at adelelr@telkomsa.net, Samantha at The South African Ballet Theatre at samantha@saballettheatre.co.za or Chet Diepraam of Le Canard at lecanard@icon.co.za