The University of Cape Town School of Dance’s annual showcase Dance UCT 2009 will feature the talents of its students in a new work titled 'Dream' and extracts from 'Duende' at the Baxter Theatre for a limited season of four performances only, from 12 to 14 November at 19:30.

This year, the School of Dance, which is incorporated into the South African College of Music (SACM), celebrates its 75th anniversary since it was founded in 1934 by the South African ballet doyenne, Dr Dulcie Howes.

“The school holds the distinction as one of the first dance institutes in the world to be attached to a university. We are indeed proud to be honouring 75 years of developing and nurturing ballet and dance in the Mother City,” says Director Gerard Samuel, a graduate from the same institution.

He continues, “Our line-up in this showcase is the perfect choice for the public and our students since Professor David Poole’s Dream was first staged at the opening of the Baxter Theatre Centre some 32 years ago. This is really the final offering and a culmination of various exciting events that have marked this milestone for us.”

The School of Dance believes in offering diversity in dance. Already courses are aimed at specialising in African dance; contemporary dance; and classical ballet as three of its major dance disciplines. Recently Indian dance; contact improvisation; and open classes in ballet for adults and senior citizens, as well as a module of working in dance for children with disabilities have formally been included in the academic programme.

Other events undertaken to celebrate the anniversary include a retrospective photographic art exhibition entitled 75 Photos; a symposium - 'Mapping the Man' - (de)construction of the masculinities in dance; two lunch-hour concerts exploring the diverse dance repertoires; a collaborative afro-contemporary dance season with the Eoan Group in Athlone – Dynamix; the first-ever South African improvisation meeting with visiting scholar, Professor Kirstie Simson and Jori Snell, and hosting Fulbright scholar, Dr Sherry Shapiro - responsible for researching a dance-in-education in South Africa project.

Dream is a light-hearted tale of mischief and mishap, choreographed by Lindy Raizenberg. Its choreographic style is eclectic and it loosely follows William Shakespeare’s much-loved 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream', with music by Mendelssohn.

The award-winning Raizenberg is excited by her first full length work for the school. She skillfully and humorously blurs the fairy world with that of reality. The story is set locally in the Company Gardens in Cape Town with a range of fun characters that emerge from the hustle and bustle of city life. Billy Shakes - a mysterious stranger - and a group of rowdy matriculants and their teachers form the background to this entertaining and off-beat scenario.

Jack Puck is a mischievous newspaper vendor, Jannie Bottom is the head gardener and young couples Lysander Smit; Hermia Hawkins; Demetrius du Plessis; and Helena Hernandes all work in the same department at a local university. Professor George Oberon and his fiancée Titania Du Preez, have come to a turning pointe in their long-standing relationship and a disagreement over the sudden appearance of an ex-boyfriend serves as the catalyst for a series of amusing and muddled events, culminating in a light-hearted celebration at the Nellie, a nearby up-market hotel.

Dance UCT 2009 opens with extracts from the Spanish Dance production 'Duende', choreographed by Dame Mavis Becker, performed by UCT School of Dance students with students from La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatre’s vocational training programme. This is followed by the new full-length work, 'Dream'.

Tickets for the preview on Thursday, 12 November are R50 and R60 for performances on 13 November at 19:30 and 14 November at 14:00 and 19:30.

A stylish cocktail dinner for R75 per person follows the performance of 'Dream' only on Friday, 13 November, at 19:30 in the Baxter main foyer. To take advantage of this special offer, contact Sharon Friedman on 021 650 4601 or [email protected].

Students and senior citizens pay only R30 for any performance on presentation of a valid identity card. Book through Computicket on 083 915 8000, online at www.computicket.co.za or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet countrywide.

There is a special performance for schools on Friday, 13 November, at 11:30. Booking is essential and should be made through Sharon Friedman on 021 650 4601 during office hours or e-mail [email protected].