Some stories never lose their power.
They return again and again, finding new dancers, new audiences and new ways to make a theatre fall silent before erupting into applause.
This September, Carmen returns to the stage as Joburg Ballet celebrates 25 years of artistic achievement — and this production promises to be far more than a showcase of extraordinary dance.
It is a celebration of legacy, artistry, continuity and renewal.
Choreographed by acclaimed South African choreographer Veronica Paeper and driven by Georges Bizet’s unforgettable score, Carmen will take over the Mandela Stage at Joburg Theatre for 10 performances from Friday 25 September to Sunday 4 October.
The production will then travel to Pretoria for two performances at the South African State Theatre on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October.
A landmark anniversary deserves a powerful story
For Joburg Ballet Artistic Director Dane Hurst, Carmen is perfectly positioned within the company’s milestone season.
As Joburg Ballet marks 25 years, the production brings together dramatic storytelling, virtuosic movement and creative partnerships that have helped shape the company.
But Carmen also carries something deeper.
It honours one of South Africa’s most distinguished choreographic voices.
Veronica Paeper’s contribution to Joburg Ballet’s artistic legacy has been profound, making her return to the company for this production particularly significant.
Her interpretation brings together the emotional intensity of the story with the technical demands of classical ballet — creating a production that promises both spectacle and drama.
And with Bizet’s score providing the musical heartbeat, the stage is set for a production designed to leave an impression.
Where passion meets precision
Carmen tells its story through movement, music and theatrical intensity.
At the centre of Joburg Ballet’s production are two dancers who have become closely associated with the company’s artistic journey.
Principal dancers Revil Yon and Monike Cristina lead the cast as Don José and Carmen.
Yon holds a particularly significant place in South African ballet as the country’s only South African male principal dancer.
Cristina, from Brazil, brings her own international perspective and experience to the role.
Together, they bring a decade of shared history with Joburg Ballet.
Both dancers are marking 10 years with the company, while their artistic partnership has become synonymous with Joburg Ballet’s success.
That history gives their performances another layer.
They are not simply stepping into iconic roles.
They are bringing years of artistic experience to characters whose relationship demands extraordinary emotional and physical intensity.
A new generation steps into the spotlight
But this Carmen is not only about the artists who have already helped shape Joburg Ballet.
It is also about those who will shape what comes next.
Ryoko Yagyu and Ivan Domiciano will make their debuts in the leading roles, bringing fresh energy and theatrical vitality to the production.
A new partnership will also emerge through Darragh Hourrides and Bruno Miranda.
And then there is the next generation.
Latoya Mokoena, Chloe Blair, Gabriella Ghiaroni, Mario Gaglione, Miles Carrott and Miguel Franco-Green represent the emerging artists who are beginning to carry Joburg Ballet’s artistic legacy forward.
Their involvement turns the production into something larger than a single season.
It becomes a glimpse of the company’s future.
Passing the knowledge forward
Perhaps one of the most meaningful elements of the production is what happens away from the spotlight.
Supporting Paeper in bringing Carmen to life are Ballet Mistress Kim Vieira and Associate Ballet Mistress Nicole Ferreira-Dill.
Both have performed under Paeper’s direction in celebrated productions throughout their own distinguished careers.
Their involvement represents something fundamental to any great artistic institution:
knowledge being passed from one generation to the next.
For Joburg Ballet, that connection between past, present and future is particularly fitting during its 25th anniversary year.
The company is not simply looking back at what it has achieved.
It is showing audiences who will carry that legacy forward.
The missing piece of an ambitious anniversary season
Every production in Joburg Ballet’s 25th anniversary season has been deliberately selected to reveal another side of the company’s artistic identity.
Carmen provides a striking contrast to the other productions.
Where Giselle explores ethereal romanticism, Celestial Bodies brings elegance and expansive beauty, and The Bacchae delivers visceral theatrical power, Carmen adds its own distinctive combination of drama, passion and virtuosity.
The result is a season that refuses to stand still.
And Carmen arrives with the dramatic force to make its mark.
Get closer to the dancers before the curtain rises
For audiences wanting to experience the world of Carmen before opening night, Joburg Ballet will host a special Open Day on Saturday 12 September.
From 10h00 to 13h00, the public can visit the Joburg Ballet Studios at 26 Hoofd Street, Braamfontein, where they will have the opportunity to watch the dancers in class and rehearsal.
Tickets cost R165 per person, with unreserved seating, and can be booked through Quicket.
It offers audiences a rare opportunity to see the discipline behind the spectacle — the work, repetition and precision that transform movement into performance.
When and where to see Carmen
The Johannesburg season takes place at Joburg Theatre’s Mandela Stage from 25 September to 4 October.
Performances include evening shows, weekend matinees and two weekday 11h00 performances.
Ticket prices for the main performances range from R260 to R800, while the 30 September and 1 October concession performances are priced at R250 for all seats.
Discounts are available for eligible bookings, including children under seven, Friends of the Ballet, pensioners and groups.
The production then moves to Pretoria for two performances at the South African State Theatre:
Saturday 24 October at 15h00
Sunday 25 October at 15h00
Tickets for the Pretoria performances range from R300 to R480.
A story about legacy — and what comes next
There is something particularly fitting about Carmen taking its place in Joburg Ballet’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
The production brings together an acclaimed choreographer, established principals, debuting dancers and emerging artists.
It connects artistic generations.
It celebrates what has already been built while making room for what comes next.
And perhaps that is the real story behind this Carmen.
Not simply a famous ballet returning to the stage.
But a company looking at its past, celebrating its present and preparing its future — all through the language of dance.
This September, Joburg Ballet isn’t simply celebrating 25 years. It is showing audiences what a quarter-century of artistic legacy looks like when the curtain rises.
And Carmen is ready to take centre stage.
