The Bacchae: An African Choral Ballet | Highlights

This July, ballet, indigenous African movement, and choral verse join forces in what promises to be an immersive experience of music, sound and storytelling that pushes the boundaries of theatrical storytelling. University of Johannesburg Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (FADA), is proudly collaborating with Joburg Ballet on the reimagining of Euripides’ classic: The Bacchae: An African Choral Ballet, premiering as part of Joburg Ballet’s 25th anniversary season. Led by director Jay Pather, with composition by Neo Muyanga, choreography by Mthuthuzeli November, featuring the acclaimed UJ Choir and a live chamber orchestra, the creative team transforms Euripides’ tragedy into an urgent South African conversation about power, belonging, spirituality, and communal rites, while making visible the consequences of excess. “The Bacchae is a tussle between passion, excess, the irrational, and allowing the irrational to run free, as opposed to order, moderation and restraint. That dynamic sets itself very well at this time in our history, where societies across the world are feeling that tension and that pull,” says director Jay Pather. Muyanga draws on the powerful voices of the internationally acclaimed UJ Choir alongside a live chamber orchestra to incorporate the textual elements of the performance, while his soaring score drives the work’s emotional pulse and intoxicating rhythm. The Bacchae: An African Choral Ballet also opens the stage to last year’s FADA Theatre 101 cohort led by Jade Bowers. Launched by Prof Federico Freschi in 2017, the programme sees second-year FADA students getting involved in the design of the production, with selected students’ proposals incorporated into the final production design. Now in its 10th year, the interdisciplinary programme allows students to work alongside theatre professionals, gaining hands-on experience and contributing fresh perspectives to the process. “This collaboration between UJ Arts & Culture and Joburg Ballet reflects our commitment to fostering bold, interdisciplinary work that is both locally grounded and globally resonant. The Bacchae: An African Choral Ballet creates a powerful platform for artistic exchange - bringing together professional artists, composers, choreographers and our own students in a shared process of innovation and learning. It is especially meaningful to see young creatives from FADA contributing to a production of this scale, gaining invaluable experience while shaping the visual and conceptual language of the work. This project not only reimagines a classical text through a distinctly African lens but also affirms the role of the arts in interrogating contemporary social realities, building community, and expanding the possibilities of performance in South Africa,” says Pieter Jacobs, Head of UJ Arts & Culture. Drawing from Euripides’ classic, the full-length ballet reinterprets the tale in a richness of movement, sound and choral tradition. The tragedy follows Dionysus, who arrives in a divided city promising freedom, ecstasy and spiritual awakening. As his intoxicating presence sweeps through Thebes, women abandon convention and a chorus of voices rises in ecstatic defiance. Pentheus, the rigid young ruler, vows to restore order and crush the growing movement; but curiosity and desire draw him dangerously close to the very force he condemns. For UJ Arts & Culture, The Bacchae emphasises the university’s commitment to arts that educate, provoke, and promote inclusive participation by incorporating youth development in the creative industries, cultural exchange and pathways into professional practice. This collaboration speaks to UJ Arts & Culture’s role in championing artistic ambition, developing strategic partnerships across the arts landscape and creating work that resonates with the communities it serves. “This landmark production holds enormous potential for South Africa and beyond,” says Elroy Fillis- Bell, Joburg Ballet’s CEO “With the collaboration of UJ Arts & Culture and the expertise of the incredible creative team, ballet, choral music, theatre and visual design have been woven into a tapestry that transcends artistic boundaries to create a truly immersive, multi-disciplinary experience. It reinterprets a European classic through African creativity, giving audiences a work of international calibre that reflects the richness of our voices and traditions. Not only will this production elevate ballet and dance on the continent but it will also stand as a symbol of innovation, resilience and artistic power in South Africa’s cultural history.