CAPE TOWN DIVA: June 2013

Tutus, tulle, tights & tiaras...a Night at the Ballet...

Friday evening found me in Johannesburg at the International Ballet Gala, presented by uber ballet entrepreneur Dirk Badenhorst, at the splendid Teatro at Montecasino. The season, only 5 performances long (28-30 June), was a tribute to one of the greatest names in Classical Ballet, Alicia Alonso, & she herself was in the audience of 1,800. It was an unforgettable night as top dancers from SA & around the world ~ Cuba, China, the USA, Russia, Australia & more ~ paid homage to Madame Alonso, dancing spectacularly in pas de deux & solo variations that had me screaming Bravo every 5 seconds! The cast delivered outstandingly, executing bravura ballet at its best... split leaps, multiple pirouettes, barrel turns, jetes en tournant & more...I think my mouth was hanging open again, in very un-Diva fashion. Tutus, tulle, tights, tiaras...I was in my element ~ everything was, as they say, beautiful at the Ballet.

Here are a few photographs I took backstage before & after the performance...

My favourite image....

Alicia Alonso & the cast of the International Ballet Gala backstage afterwards.

The next top international dance company performing in Cape Town this year is Introdans from The Netherlands ~ they will perform Superstars in September 2013 at the Baxter Theatre with booking via Computicket or 08619158000 / www.baxter.co.za *

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Labels: Ballet, Events

Nelson Mandela. Elder Statesman. On my mind....

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Labels: Faces

A divine lifestyle store called NAP...

I took a meander through De Waterkant today & came upon this gem of a store, NAP. Not a new venture, it has in fact been around quite some years but I'd not been in any of the shops for ages. I've clearly been missing out...the product is amazing- owner Carina & her daughter Tamryn have a great eye for everything from quality homeware to gorgeous jewellery to apparel (gorgeous fabrics are used in muted tones), to bath & beauty spoil-me's. To round it all off, as one must, they also serve Deluxe coffee & this morning the barista was on fine form. Have a look, have a shop, it's fabulous. Oh & let me not forget the stunning sales assistant Lisa who is a credit to the brand & was so welcoming - what great service - I'll be back*

This & that for the bath & beyond...

True story tea lovers...

Something for the smallies....knitted toys...

Wellies for those slushy puddle- jumping days...

Mine mine mine...

And end off your spree with a cup of Deluxe....

Check out their website www.napliving.co.za - the stores are in Cape Town & Joburg*

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Labels: Clothing, Design, Favourite Places, Lifestyle

It's Winter~there's a Special waiting for you...

Harbour House Waterfront & Kalk Bay offer fabulous specials on their Winter menu, running from May to October annually. The menu changes monthly & is a steal at R150 for two courses & R170 for three, excluding drinks (have a look at the full menu on www.harourhouse.co.za). Last week I invited a few fabulous Tweeters & Bloggers to the Waterfront restaurant to come & sample the fare~ our first Meet, Eat & Tweet gathering & it was amaze fun...I'll be doing it monthly...

The House Salad: rocket, crispy bacon, Bella rosa tomatoes, avo & Parmesan, tossed in whole grain mustard vinaigrette & served with garlic rubbed croutons, peas, basil mayo & a soft poached egg...

Grilled crayfish Thermidor served with pomme frites & a mixed herb salad...

Milk tart panacotta with cardamom crumble & brandied dates...

Ad if you're not in the mood for the winter specials, have a platter of sushi...

Harbour House V&A 0214184748 / Kalk Bay 0217884133. Go & indulge....

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Labels: Events, Favourite Places, Food Drink

Blow your hair back at Madame Zingara's...

Zingara is what they say it is, a big experience, a spectacle, an extravaganza. From the olde world Spiegel mirror tent, to the milly waiters sporting the best selection of big- hair wigs I've seen in ages, to the MC, performers & audience, no-one is exempt from a dose of fabulous theatrical madness. Having the job I do means I've seen a lot of superb theatre so I'm tres critical & I can tell you that there are a few acts in the 2013 Zingara Miracle Tour show that totally blew my hair back...like the beautifully costumed & exquisite Mongolian contortionist, a delicate porcelain doll of a girl; the 2 acrobats from the same country (loved their costumes & makeup) - no question, theirs is a very unique skill set & their performance had me looking very un-diva-un-dignified with my mouth hanging open; & then the drumming duo with major volcanic energy- 2 Argentinian guys with great hair, I mean talent! Seriously, they were superb. The singers, the Specifics, were kick ass fabulous & it was so good hearing the divine Carmen Maarman again (I first worked with her on a David Kramer show some years back). And as for that classy bombshell, Cathy Specific, well she takes drag to a new level. Cathy, aka Brendan Van Rhyn, is on top of her/ his game & Cathy is a slick act, outstandingly costumed, beautifully groomed & of course those legs just go on for years. Last night was Brendan's last show after 2.5 years...he now embarks on a new journey, as Frank N Furter in Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show, starting at the Fugard Theatre next month. Apologies re the poor quality of the pics...the lighting was dim, obvs.....

I finally got to taste the chocolate chili steak...

Cathy Specific herself....

http://mobi.madamezingara.com/

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Labels: Events, Theatre

Ballet...dance...movement...beauty...

I went through to the Cape Acedemy of Performing Arts in Tokai (Cape Town) yesterday & watched some beautiful choreographies presented by the LEAP (Liberal Education for Arts Professionals) faculty led by Kristine Elliot from California. The LEAP team had worked with several dance teachers & studios in & around Cape Town, such as CAPA, Dance for All in Athlone & the Zama Dance School in Gugulethu. Dancers of varying technical levels & of different ages, performed with aplomb, zest & joie de vivre...it was amazing to see. For more info about LEAP, visit http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/leap ~ I took a few studio shots...enjoy....

Watching...

Mthuthuzeli November...

Having a ball....

Londiwe Khoza...

Dance like no-one's watching....Carpe Diem *

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Labels: Ballet, Events

Time to be an Eco diva....

Read the labels ladies & gents. There are too many beauty products out there with too many dodgy ingredients. I recently read about the chemicals that lurk in many deodorants & antiperspirants... parabens, aluminium, asbestiform fibres, propylene glycol. Big words with bad side effects. Rather use a natural alternative. Be an Eco diva. These are a few of the deo options (bars & powders) at LUSH that I have tried; give them a whirl...they are fabulously effective *

PS I am not sponsored by LUSH, am just a big fan of their products & their ethos, that includes no animal testing & recycled packaging. They have stores at the Waterfront & as of a week ago, at Cavendish Square.

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Labels: Life

Dinner before a show...

I love the tradition of eating out before going to la theatre, making a night out into an event. To this end, Side Dish is a fabulous eatery at one of the City's best entertainment venues, Theatre on the Bay in Camps Bay. The restaurant is run by one of my fave foodies, Andrea Foulkes from DISH Food & Social. I went to see the play Venus in Fur last night & the meal I had beforehand at Side Dish was divine on every level (the menu changes every 6 weeks by the way). See the pics for yourself & don't drool all over your Ipad ... Bon appetit !

A Starter ~ Crispy kaitiffi parcels filled with smoked beef carpaccio & blue cheese & sweet chili mayo on the side...