a powerful programme of classical and contemporary works
Joburg Ballet’s Spring Season of Dance, featuring three diverse programmes – SANDT Spring Gala, Celestial Bodies and First Light – runs from 3 to 12 October 2025 at the Joburg Theatre.
The season opens on Friday 3 October with the SANDT Spring Gala. Presented by the South African National Dance Trust (SANDT) in partnership with Joburg Ballet and funded by the National Lotteries Commission and the National Arts Council, it features Royal Ballet guest artists Sarah Lamb, Ryoichi Hirano and Lara Turk, Joburg Ballet and WGRUV Dance Company in works by legendary choreographers George Balanchine, Sir Frederick Ashton and Christopher Wheeldon as well as celebrated South African choreographers Veronica Paeper, Adele Blank and Sean Bovim.
This is followed by the second programme, Celestial Bodies, on Saturday 4 October at 14h00 and 19h00 and Sunday 5 October at 14h00. A world premiere by Mario Gaglione, Joburg Ballet’s Naledi award-winning choreographer in partnership with the visionary Universe on Stage duo, physicist Dr Luca Pontiggia and composer Yasheen Modi.
The third and final programme of the Spring Season of Dance is First Light, with performances on Thursday 9 October at 11h00, Friday 10 October at 19h00, and Saturday 11 October and Sunday 12 October at 14h00.
This mixed bill of classical and contemporary works blending tradition with bold new perspectives includes:
- Raymonda Act 3, produced by former Joburg Ballet Principal Dancer, Shannon Glover. Created for the Imperial Russian Ballet in 1898 by Marius Petipa, one of the greatest choreographers in ballet history, Raymonda tells the story of a princess whose betrothed, Jean de Brienne, departs on a crusade. Act 3 is a celebration of the marriage of de Brienne and Raymonda. Set to Alexander Glazunov’s lush score, this act provides a showcase of pure classical dancing from Hungarian national dances, a pas de deux, solos and ensembles.
- Concerto for Charlie, created by Veronica Paeper in the early 1980s for Capab Ballet was part of a programme sponsored by the fragrance house Elizabeth Arden, with the title ‘Charlie’ referring to the perfume. It has no narrative or story and is purely an expression of Shostakovich’s exquisite Piano Concerto No. 2 in dance.
- Few countries have made as rich a contribution to the classical ballet tradition as Spain, with Spanish culture providing the material for a dazzling array of ballets. Joburg Ballet Senior Soloist, Bruno Miranda has dipped into this treasure trove for Classics of Spain, a showcase of just some of the ballets inspired by Spanish stories and settings, among them Don Quixote, Carmen and Laurencia. “The idea of Classics of Spain,” says Miranda, “came from my love of Spanish dances.”
Reflecting the creativity and potential thriving within the company are two new works from Joburg Ballet’s rising stars:
Naledi Award winner Chloé Blair’s Nothing Twice is set to Ezio Bosso’s Concerto No. 1 for Violin, Strings and Timpani. In this work a classical essence of romance is conveyed through a modern love story which explores the uniqueness of the two individuals’ connection to one another. “While many people can come and go in our lives”, says Blair, “we may yearn for one specific connection that can never be repeated. Try as we may to recreate that connection, nothing will ever be the same as that relationship – nothing is the same twice”.
Tumelo Lekana’s Mpho(‘gift’ in SeTswana or SeSotho) debuted at the Royal Opera House in London in April 2025 as part of the prestigious International Draft Works, an event spotlighting emerging choreographers from around the globe. Lekana’s inspiration for Mpho came from a series of vivid dreams which evolved into a rich narrative that examines the search for truth and self-acceptance. He says he sees “the essence of Mpho as a journey towards healing and faith”, and that it is his hope that the audience will leave with a feeling of “connection, healing and encouragement to discover their own gifts.”
Spring Season of Dance: three programmes: SANDT Spring Gala | Celestial Bodies | First Light
Programme 1: SANDT Spring Gala – one performance only
Friday 3 October at 18h00 (R300, R400, R500, R600, R700)
Programme 2: Celestial Bodies – three performances
Saturday 4 October at 14h00 & 19h00; Sunday 5 October at 14h00 (R200, R290, R350, R420, R510)
Programme 3: First Light: four performances
Thursday 9 October at 11h00 – all seats R130
Friday 10 October at 19h00; Saturday 11 October at 14h00; Sunday 12 October at 14h00 (R200, R290, R350, R420, R510)
Discounts (not applicable to SANDT Spring Gala): 50% Children; 35% Friends of the Ballet; 15% Pensioners; 10% 10+
Book on 0861 670 670 or online at:
SANDT Spring Gala – https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1572229542
Celestial Bodies – https://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=1574592164
First Light – https://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=1574593118
For more information visit www.joburgballet.com | www.universeonstage.com
