Joburg Ballet’s Spring Season of Dance: A World-Class Showcase in Three Acts
This October, Joburg Ballet ushers in the change of season with an extraordinary trio of productions that honour ballet’s rich heritage while embracing bold new visions. From a glittering gala to cosmic wonder and a showcase of fresh creative voices, the Spring Season of Dance promises to be a showcase like no other.
Act I: The SANDT Spring Gala
On Friday, 3 October, the curtain will rise on Joburg Ballet’s Spring Season in dazzling style with the SANDT Spring Gala at Joburg Theatre. The South African National Dance Trust (SANDT) partners with Joburg Ballet to produce this one-night-only event. Guests are invited to don their finest attire for an evening of glamour, artistry, and collaboration.
The Gala brings together some of the world’s brightest stars, including Royal Ballet principals Sarah Lamb and Ryoichi Hirano, as well as South Africa’s own Lara Turk, returning home after 18 years with The Royal Ballet. Joining them on stage are members from Joburg Ballet, WGRUV Dance Company, and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Eddie Clayton.
Audiences can look forward to the South African premieres of works by legendary choreographers George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, and Frederick Ashton. These will be showcased alongside celebrated creations by local icons Veronica Paeper, Sean Bovim, Adele Blank, and Dane Hurst. From Balanchine’s Diamonds Pas de Deux to Paeper’s Carmen and Bovim’s fiery Tango Table, the evening promises an exhilarating blend of classical mastery and South African creativity.
Booking details: Joburg Theatre, Friday 3 October, drinks from 18h00, performance at 19h00. Tickets from R300 via Webtickets.
Act II: Celestial Bodies
On Saturday, 4 October and Sunday, 5 October, Joburg Ballet takes audiences on a transcendent journey with Celestial Bodies, a brand-new work that fuses dance, science, music, and wonder.
Choreographed by Naledi Award-winner Mario Gaglione, the production is born of a unique collaboration with creators from Universe on Stage, physicist Dr Luca Pontiggia and composer Yasheen Modi. Together, they weave a story that traces the patterns of the cosmos through movement, from galaxies and black holes to the very atoms that form life.
“This is a ballet about our shared connection to the universe,” says Gaglione. “Every dancer is a spark of stardust, moving with the same energy that flows through the stars.”
With Modi’s evocative score, Pontiggia’s scientific vision, and Joburg Ballet’s artistry, Celestial Bodies promises to be unlike anything South African audiences have seen before — a ballet that is as visually breathtaking as it is soul-stirring.
Booking details: Joburg Theatre, Saturday 4 October at 14h00 & 19h00, Sunday 5 October at 14h00. Tickets via Webtickets.
Act III: First Light
The season closes with First Light, a dynamic mixed bill running from 9–12 October that celebrates both ballet’s grand traditions and the innovation of rising choreographic voices.
Classical highlights include Raymonda Act 3, produced by Shannon Glover, a celebration of marriage and pure classical dance set to Glazunov’s sweeping score. Joburg Ballet also revives Veronica Paeper’s Concerto for Charlie, a shimmering work set to Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Lastly, Spanish-inspired ballets are explored in Bruno Miranda’s Classics of Spain, drawing on favourites like Don Quixote and Carmen.
The programme also introduces exciting new works by emerging South African choreographers. Chloé Blair’s Nothing Twice, set to Ezio Bosso’s Concerto No. 1, explores the fleeting uniqueness of human connection in a tender modern love story. Tumelo Lekana’s Mpho, which premiered at London’s Royal Opera House earlier this year, reflects on healing, faith, and the discovery of one’s inner gifts.
Booking details: Joburg Theatre, Thursday 9 October at 11h00, Friday 10 October at 19h00, Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 October at 14h00. Tickets via Webtickets.
With its glittering gala, cosmic wonder, and bold new voices, Joburg Ballet’s Spring Season of Dance is more than just a celebration of ballet — it is a reflection of South Africa’s vibrant cultural identity and its place on the world stage. Whether you’re a seasoned ballet lover or a first-time theatre-goer, this is a season that promises to leave you inspired.
![CITY GUIDE: Shop Til You Drop in Cape Town [updated August 2025]](https://hellolifestyle.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Untitled-design-Feature-768x768.png)
