Celestial Bodies: Joburg Ballet’s Cosmic Dance Premiere at the Mandela Theatre

A universe of dance arrives in Joburg

Johannesburg audiences are in for a rare experience this October when Joburg Ballet unveils Celestial Bodies, a production that blends art, science and music into one extraordinary stage event. This world premiere will be staged at the Nelson Mandela Theatre for just three performances on 4 and 5 October 2025.

Choreographed by Naledi Award-winner Mario Gaglione, the ballet forms part of Joburg Ballet’s Spring Season of Dance, a series that celebrates innovation and the future of South African ballet. What makes Celestial Bodies unique is its collaboration with Universe on Stage, the visionary duo of physicist Dr Luca Pontiggia and composer Yasheen Modi.

Science in motion

Celestial Bodies is built on cosmic themes of energy, connection and movement. Inspired by Universe on Stage’s acclaimed Hidden Giants, Gaglione saw a natural choreography in their mix of live music and scientific storytelling.

On stage, the production brings together narration, visuals, music and ballet. Every movement is designed to echo the vast rhythms of the cosmos, inviting audiences to feel part of an infinite dance that links stars, atoms and human life.

As Gaglione explained, this ballet reflects our shared identity as celestial bodies in orbit, each of us part of an endless poem of light.

The visionaries behind Universe on Stage

Pontiggia and Modi could not be more different in background, yet their union is what makes Universe on Stage compelling. Pontiggia, a nuclear engineer with a PhD in string theory, brings scientific depth, while Modi, a guitarist and lyricist who has played piano since childhood, brings artistic sensitivity.

Since launching at The Bioscope in 2022, their shows have sold out repeatedly and are now regarded as the most successful in the cinema’s 15-year history. Their performances combine live science talks with original compositions and cinematic visuals, crafted to make science not only accessible but beautiful.

Their role in Celestial Bodies is groundbreaking: for the first time, narration, music, science, visuals and ballet converge in one story.

Ticket details and discounts

Tickets for Celestial Bodies range from R200 to R510 per person, with a number of discounts on offer:

• 50% off for children
• 35% off for Friends of the Ballet
• 15% off for pensioners
• 10% off during the Payday Sale running from 25 to 28 September

Performances are set for Saturday, 4 October, at 2 pm and 7 pm, and Sunday, 5 October, at 2 pm at the Nelson Mandela Theatre, Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein.

Why this matters for Joburg

Johannesburg thrives on cultural reinvention, and Celestial Bodies embodies that spirit. By merging ballet with physics and live music, the production offers a fresh way for audiences to connect with both art and science.

Social media followers of Joburg Ballet and Universe on Stage are already praising the ambition of the collaboration. In a city known for blending grit with creativity, a ballet inspired by the cosmos feels perfectly placed.