In the Wings - Profile about a Cape Town City Ballet ballerina
Lack of sleep, sore muscles and minimal rest. The ballerina lets us peek behind the curtains to see what it takes to be a performing artist.
The theatre goes quiet and there is an array of “shh shh” heard as the music starts playing. The last few lit up cell phone screens disappear and then it begins. You sink back into your chair with the sounds of the violins and harps as the curtains open.
As an audience member, one never quite knows what to expect from a show. Each performance holds something new and unique. The pitter patter of the pointe shoes on the stage is what reminds you that these people are dancing on their toes, on a piece of wood. Admiration may not accurately describe what you feel, ‘awe’ would seem more fitting.
The curtains slowly open.
The stage is neat and modestly decorated but beautiful. Every wall has either a heart or a cross and never flashy, everything is earthy and feminine.
The backdrop lifts to reveal more.
The room comes into view and the bed is so well made it looks as if the cleaning service has just left. Although there is no swan towel, the pillows are stacked according to strict order and precision.
Sitting outside on the balcony of her sea-view flat she stretches out her legs and touches her toes. This elegant movement would be a strain for most but it comes so naturally to our lead. Here is our principal dancer, Mariette Opperman.
Let the show begin.
After coffee and lots of conversation in the seaside flat she decides it’s time to head out and enjoy herself a little. The ballerina does a costume change and the stage is transformed into nightlife.
Every dancer needs to let the muscles relax and Mariette find wine and laughter to be the perfect exercise.
The music surprises you with a melody that makes this specific show a unique one.
“I love adventures and I’m lucky because I’ve had a few. I won a fishing competition in Nigeria, walked with the Gorillas in Rwanda and shark-cage diving here in Cape Town”.
The story takes a turn as the ballerina plays Cinderella and has to leave the social scene before 22:00 because she knows she has an eighteen-hour day ahead. The ballerina leaves the stage.
A ballerina must be well-disciplined and this one is also set in her ways. “The other night we had girls’ night and every time they finished using a utensil I quickly washed it. I only realised what I was doing when they all told me to stop. I also need the remotes to be in a straight line.”
A quick shower, brushing of teeth, then she packs 2 pairs of pointes and leotards for the big day and then she’s ready for bed.
Intermission as the ballerina gets her beauty sleep.
“Well I’m so used to waking up at 05:00. It’s not always an eighteen-hour day but show times are what ballerinas live for”. This small, or rather petite lady makes any person feel lazy and incompetent.
She walks at a fast pace and she has packed herself like a mule; with two bags on each arm and holding something in each hand. Her posture resembles that of a meerkat; she is perfectly up straight but with an energy that makes her graceful movements appear to be in fast forward.
Scene change as she jumps into her small Getz with the sticker “Cape Town City Ballet” displayed in the back window. The curtains roll up quickly in order to keep up with her whizzing through the robots, unlike the graceful movements you expect to see.
Once again this show has added a distinctive twist to classic ballet, one everyone assumed to have summed up so well.
She is one of four in the company who attends early morning classes. “The others say they don’t know how we do it because they can sleep late and we choose to wake up so early. But it’s really worth it because it’s like sending yourself to the panel beaters before the day starts. I really get to prepare my body”.
When asked whether she really needs these extra classes she smiles and says “He told me that I have the body of a Lamborghini but the manual of a Volkswagen so he is teaching me to find my manual”.
The ballerina changes costume during the show and surprises everyone by swapping the pointes for some sturdy hiking boots.
“My favourite role was Diana in Diana & Acteon. I was so nauseous before the show and my legs went numb. Most people wouldn’t like it but I’m an adrenaline junkie so I loved it.”
She cannot tell you a story without moving her arms around frantically and having the same amount of enthusiasm and expression that an excited toddler, who is telling you about their day, would have. You live the story as she tells it and you can see why she’s a performing artist because it comes so naturally.
“My other favourite show was Night and Day because the role suited my personality and I didn’t have someone shouting at me to stop smiling the whole time. In Swan Lake I always have to remember to be serious”.
Frieda Mennen and Claire Spector share a changing room with Mariette, “she always makes you laugh. Her Afrikaans also makes what she says come out funny”.
The longer this ballerina stays on stage the more the audience enjoy the performance, she does every movement to perfection and not a beat is missed. But there is something extra in this performance, she adds her own ‘pizazz’.
Claire says that, “as a dancer she is very diligent and works very hard. She has improved and changed so much. Her hard work really has paid off, she has achieved a lot already”.
Frieda adds that, “the thing I love about her the most is that she is a serious dancer but she doesn’t take it too seriously. She makes it enjoyable and if something goes wrong it’s not a catastrophe”.
As the music changes into a lighter beat the chorus joins the ballerina on stage and they dance the finale together. The lyrics by Frieda say “She is ’n regte maaitjie”.
As the dancers bow at the curtain call, one takes a last look at the principal dancer, your favourite ballerina and you clap louder. Bravo to this wonderful woman.
The theatre goes quiet and there is an array of “shh shh” heard as the music starts playing. The last few lit up cell phone screens disappear and then it begins. You sink back into your chair with the sounds of the violins and harps as the curtains open.
As an audience member, one never quite knows what to expect from a show. Each performance holds something new and unique. The pitter patter of the pointe shoes on the stage is what reminds you that these people are dancing on their toes, on a piece of wood. Admiration may not accurately describe what you feel, ‘awe’ would seem more fitting.
The curtains slowly open.
The stage is neat and modestly decorated but beautiful. Every wall has either a heart or a cross and never flashy, everything is earthy and feminine.
The backdrop lifts to reveal more.
The room comes into view and the bed is so well made it looks as if the cleaning service has just left. Although there is no swan towel, the pillows are stacked according to strict order and precision.
Sitting outside on the balcony of her sea-view flat she stretches out her legs and touches her toes. This elegant movement would be a strain for most but it comes so naturally to our lead. Here is our principal dancer, Mariette Opperman.
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| Mariette Opperman preparing for her performance of Swan Lake |
Let the show begin.
After coffee and lots of conversation in the seaside flat she decides it’s time to head out and enjoy herself a little. The ballerina does a costume change and the stage is transformed into nightlife.
Every dancer needs to let the muscles relax and Mariette find wine and laughter to be the perfect exercise.
The music surprises you with a melody that makes this specific show a unique one.
“I love adventures and I’m lucky because I’ve had a few. I won a fishing competition in Nigeria, walked with the Gorillas in Rwanda and shark-cage diving here in Cape Town”.
The story takes a turn as the ballerina plays Cinderella and has to leave the social scene before 22:00 because she knows she has an eighteen-hour day ahead. The ballerina leaves the stage.
A ballerina must be well-disciplined and this one is also set in her ways. “The other night we had girls’ night and every time they finished using a utensil I quickly washed it. I only realised what I was doing when they all told me to stop. I also need the remotes to be in a straight line.”
A quick shower, brushing of teeth, then she packs 2 pairs of pointes and leotards for the big day and then she’s ready for bed.
Intermission as the ballerina gets her beauty sleep.
“Well I’m so used to waking up at 05:00. It’s not always an eighteen-hour day but show times are what ballerinas live for”. This small, or rather petite lady makes any person feel lazy and incompetent.
She walks at a fast pace and she has packed herself like a mule; with two bags on each arm and holding something in each hand. Her posture resembles that of a meerkat; she is perfectly up straight but with an energy that makes her graceful movements appear to be in fast forward.
Scene change as she jumps into her small Getz with the sticker “Cape Town City Ballet” displayed in the back window. The curtains roll up quickly in order to keep up with her whizzing through the robots, unlike the graceful movements you expect to see.
Once again this show has added a distinctive twist to classic ballet, one everyone assumed to have summed up so well.
She is one of four in the company who attends early morning classes. “The others say they don’t know how we do it because they can sleep late and we choose to wake up so early. But it’s really worth it because it’s like sending yourself to the panel beaters before the day starts. I really get to prepare my body”.
When asked whether she really needs these extra classes she smiles and says “He told me that I have the body of a Lamborghini but the manual of a Volkswagen so he is teaching me to find my manual”.
The ballerina changes costume during the show and surprises everyone by swapping the pointes for some sturdy hiking boots.
“My favourite role was Diana in Diana & Acteon. I was so nauseous before the show and my legs went numb. Most people wouldn’t like it but I’m an adrenaline junkie so I loved it.”
She cannot tell you a story without moving her arms around frantically and having the same amount of enthusiasm and expression that an excited toddler, who is telling you about their day, would have. You live the story as she tells it and you can see why she’s a performing artist because it comes so naturally.
“My other favourite show was Night and Day because the role suited my personality and I didn’t have someone shouting at me to stop smiling the whole time. In Swan Lake I always have to remember to be serious”.
Frieda Mennen and Claire Spector share a changing room with Mariette, “she always makes you laugh. Her Afrikaans also makes what she says come out funny”.
The longer this ballerina stays on stage the more the audience enjoy the performance, she does every movement to perfection and not a beat is missed. But there is something extra in this performance, she adds her own ‘pizazz’.
Claire says that, “as a dancer she is very diligent and works very hard. She has improved and changed so much. Her hard work really has paid off, she has achieved a lot already”.
Frieda adds that, “the thing I love about her the most is that she is a serious dancer but she doesn’t take it too seriously. She makes it enjoyable and if something goes wrong it’s not a catastrophe”.
As the music changes into a lighter beat the chorus joins the ballerina on stage and they dance the finale together. The lyrics by Frieda say “She is ’n regte maaitjie”.
As the dancers bow at the curtain call, one takes a last look at the principal dancer, your favourite ballerina and you clap louder. Bravo to this wonderful woman.
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