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The dance scene is not as big as one might expect, considering Cape Town’s thriving arts scene, but there are occasionally one or two shows on that are worth seeing. Ballet is no longer very prominent, but there is some interesting modern dance around, especially when it incorporates aspects of African dance. Tap-dancing, too, is making a bit of a comeback, although there’s little here that can’t be seen at home. The Cape Town City Ballet, Cottage 3, Lover’s Walk, Rosebank, http://www.capetowncityballet.org.za, T 021-6868807. This company has a long and illustrious history, starting with the establishment of Dulci Howes’ UCT Ballet Company in 1934. Although once a large and well-funded company, it has suffered in recent years from the reallocation of government funding, and the regular large scale, big-bucks productions have been replaced with a smaller company of just 30 dancers, with performances to recorded music instead of with an accompanying orchestra. Nevertheless, they remain of a high standard, concentrating on traditional favourites such as Giselle and Cinderella. Jazzart, Artscape Theatre Centre, DF Malan St, Foreshore, east of the train station, http://www.jazzart.co.za, T 021-4109848. The other major player in Cape Town’s dance scene is the oldest modern dance company in South Africa, founded in 1975. Unlike the City Ballet, Jazzart was not granted funding during apartheid – little surprise considering its history of cultural involvement and multi-racial performances. The company continues to be actively involved in disadvantaged communities, working as a racially mixed group and creating a fusion of Western and African dance styles.
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