HYBRID: ON STAGE OR ONLINE INFORMATION
The South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC) is proud to announce the 10th competition since inception, taking place at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town from 23 to 26 July 2023 as a hybrid event. The SAIBC was founded by Dirk Badenhorst in 2008 and presented biennially. From 2021 it was decided to run the SAIBC annually. Today it is recognised as Africa’s finest and most established ballet event of its kind that attracts dancers of the highest calibre from across the globe.
This year the competition will have three age groups: ages 9 to 12 (Scholar), 13 to 16 (Junior), and 17 to 22 (Senior), featuring both Classical Ballet and Contemporary categories and the recently introduced duets, trios and group categories.
To celebrate this milestone anniversary, two exciting new elements will be introduced to the 2023 SAIBC. They are the SAIBC Recognition Awards, that will acknowledge the outstanding contribution made by South African individuals based in this country and abroad who have significantly contributed to the growth and sustainability of Ballet in SA and the World. In 2018 the SAIBC was the first to acknowledge, through an onstage ceremony at Artscape, the tremendous contribution made to ballet in this country by Mr. Johaar Mosaval, who had an illustrious career with the Royal Ballet.
Secondly, 2023 will see the addition of a choreographic category for the first time and in light of this, local and international choreographers will be invited to enter new works for adjudication by the SAIBC’s expert panel of judges. Criteria includes that dances be no longer than three minutes for either solo, duet or group entries and choreographies can be performed in practice clothing or full costume with staging.
Confirmed jurors to date are:
Ted Brandsen, Director of The Dutch National Ballet;
Mme Feng Ying, Director and Artistic Director of the National Ballet of China
Ms Hyo Jung Jun, Director Incheon City Ballet, South Korea (winner of the gold medal at the inaugural SAIBC 2008),
Carol Kinsey, former principal ballerina with CAPAB Ballet and Cape Town City Ballet;
Christoph Boehm from the Berlin State Ballet School and
Javier Monier Jr from Cuba who is currently a member of Mzansi Ballet in Johannesburg.
There will also be judge from South Korea and the full jury announcement will follow early in 2023.
Outstanding photographers who have been capturing the competition since the outset, will be exhibiting their stage and behind-the-scenes images in the Artscape foyer ahead of the start of the 2023 SAIBC. The exhibition will honour the life of one of South Africa’s most exceptional ballet photographers, the late Mr. Pat Bromilow-Downing.
Completed Application Form to be emailed to: badenhorstdirk.db@gmail.com
SAIBC contact details:
Telephone: +27 83 324 0949
Email: badenhorstdirk.db@gmail.com
Website: www.saibc.com
