Rehearsals are in full swing at the Joburg Ballet studios as the company prepares to dazzle audiences with a new staging of The Sleeping Beauty, one of the most iconic ballet classics. This mid-winter performance, produced by Italy-based ballet mistress Sophie Sarrote, will grace the stage at the Joburg Theatre from June 28 to July 7. The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra will play Tchaikovsky’s magnificent music live for all but two of the nine performances.
On May 22, 2004, the 14,000-hectare Thanda Safari (meaning "love" in isiZulu), a premier Big Five private game reserve, opened its doors to guests. Inspired by the adventures of Ernest Hemingway, Dan Olofsson and his wife Christin traveled from Malmö, Sweden, to the rolling hills of Zululand, South Africa, where they were warmly welcomed by the local Zulu people. Dan's vision was to rewild the land with the Big Five and create a private luxury villa for his friends and family.