PACT Ballet

PACT Ballet was formed in 1963 as one of the principal arts segments of the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal (PACT).

History

It incorporated the old Johannesburg City Ballet, and took its name from its sponsoring body, the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal (PACT). Its first performance featured the French ballerina Yvette Chauviré in Giselle. Artistic directors included Faith de Villiers, Lorna Haupt, and Dawn Weller.

The PACT Ballet Company was based in Queens Hall, Johannesburg.

In 1981, the company moved to Pretoria, although continued to perform regular seasons in Johannesburg.

In 1998, following the re-organisation of the Arts councils, PACT Ballet became the State Ballet Theatre, with Weller as artistic director but was disbanded in 2000. A new company was founded in its place, South African Ballet Theatre, under the direction of Karen Beukes. Largely performing the 19th-century classics, it also presents some new work including Ed Wubbe's Schlager (2004) and Kenneth Greve's Hamlet (2005). In 2002 it opened its associated school and in 2004 moved into its new premises in Johannesburg Civic Theatre.

For more information, see Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal