Joburg Ballet's Highly Anticipated 25th Anniversary Season Announced

Joburg Ballet launches its landmark 25th Anniversary Season

Joburg Ballet announced the launch of its highly anticipated 25th Anniversary Season for 2026, marking a quarter century of artistic excellence, transformation and cultural impact since its founding in 2001.

This milestone Silver Jubilee year will be celebrated with a year-long programme of world-class productions, national and international tours, special events, exhibitions, artistic promotions and new creative initiatives.

Joburg Ballet’s CEO, Elroy Fillis-Bell, said:

“The 25th Anniversary Season promises to be a monumental year of dance with a range of exciting productions and events that will showcase the company’s rich history, artistic vision and its institutional growth. From six dancers with a dream to a company that inspires a nation, our journey has been shaped by resilience, artistry and the spirit of Johannesburg. As we celebrate 25 years, we honour our past and dance boldly into our future. Joburg Ballet’s next act begins now.”

The 25th Anniversary Season starts in February 2026 with a return to the company’s origins as it presents a new production of Giselle. This iconic ballet was the first to be performed by the company, then known as the South African Ballet Theatre (SABT) and has remained a pillar of the company’s repertoire.

The beloved classic, staged by the acclaimed international ballet teacher, coach and producer Angela Malan, working with Joburg Ballet’s ballet mistress, Kim Vieira and assistant producers, Nicole Ferreira-Dill and Karen Beukes MacDonald, returns to the Joburg Theatre stage from Thursday 12 February to Sunday 15 February. Following its Johannesburg run, Giselle will tour to South African State Theatre, Pretoria, PACOFS Bloemfontein and Grand Palm Casino, Gaborone, Botswana (TBC).

In April, the critically acclaimed Celestial Bodies, choreographed by Mario Gaglione in partnership with Universe on Stage, will take place at UJ’s Keorapetse William Kgositsile, in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Culture and at the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex in Gqeberha.

In June, Joburg Ballet, in partnership with the University of Johannesburg, will present a groundbreaking new, full-length production: The Bacchae: An African Choral Ballet. Directed by Jay Pather, choreographed by Mthuthuzeli November, composed by Neo Muyanga, and featuring the powerful voices of the UJ Choir, this ambitious work will premiere at the Joburg Theatre.

In August, as part of the city-wide celebration of arts and culture, Joburg Ballet will join the CONTRA Joburg Festival, performing in studios, galleries and unconventional spaces in and around the city.

In September into October, the company returns to the Joburg Theatre main stage to present Veronica Paeper’s iconic Carmen, a dramatic and beloved classic that continues to captivate audiences.

In November and running through into the December holiday season, the enormously popular award-winning, family favourite Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, choreographed by Mario Gaglione to a commissioned score by Mark Cheyne, in partnership with the Joburg Ballet School and Joburg Ballet Academy takes the stage at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town, Johannesburg and the Playhouse Theatre in Durban. And bringing the year to a close in December 2026 is the Joburg Ballet School Showcase, featuring the next generation of stars at its annual festive season performance.

The 25th Anniversary Season also includes a range of special events and exhibitions: in May, a special Mother’s Day performance in collaboration with Friends of the Ballet (FOTB) will be held in the beautiful setting of the lush Shepstone Gardens, this will be followed by the opening of a 25th Anniversary Photography Exhibition – a visual journey through the company’s rich history and evolution.

Other exciting new initiatives under development include RADAR, a Choreographic Development Programme that aims to nurture emerging creative voices and an expanded Aspirant Programme to develop young pre-professional dancers.

Speaking of RADAR, Fillis– Bell said:

“This is not just an artistic project, it’s a skills-development engine. It creates jobs, commissions new work and builds intellectual property that remains in the country. And we are actively seeking partners to co-create this programme with us. Please get in touch with us.”

Joburg Ballet’s Artistic Director, Dane Hurst announced promotions and appointments.

Promotions: from the Aspirant Programme to Corps de Ballet – Botlhale Phalane, from Corps de Ballet to Coryphée – Miguel Franco-Green, Savannah Jacobson and Latoya Mokoena, from Coryphée to Soloist – Tumelo Lekana and from Soloist to Senior Soloist Mario Gaglione. Angela Malan and Kitty Phetla were appointed Associate Artists and Mario Gaglione, the Associate Choreographer, establishing Joburg Ballet’s circle of creative collaborators in line with global best practice.

Hurst also announced the team that is to drive the relaunched and expanded Aspirant Programme – Nicole Ferreira-Dill, Kitty Phetla and Thabani Ntuli. He explained that the relaunch of the Aspirant Programme is to expand the offering for more students to gain pre-professional experience within the company. The newly appointed team will develop a curriculum, devise a schedule and the programme in consultation with him and principal/senior company dancers to facilitate guest teaching /coaching possibilities. The team will also work with the Associate Artists to lead the Aspirants training programme and will consult with other professionals in the industry, like Shannon Glover, Anja Segal, and Burnise Silvius, amongst others.

In conclusion, Hurst said,

“As we step into our milestone year, we honour our heritage while embracing the future with renewed purpose. This Anniversary Season stands as a testament to artistic resilience, cultural leadership and the transformative power of dance in South Africa. We are grateful to all who have shaped our organisation and we look forward to celebrating this special year with our audiences, partners and stakeholders.”