WHILST the Joburg Ballet poises for its Spring Season of Dance, none among its phalanx of international dancers is practising in excited anticipation as Johannesburg-born corps de ballet dancer, Latoya Mokoena, ahead of the South African premiere of choreographer Tumelo Lekana’s Mpho – in which she’s scheduled to perform in the featured role – at the Joburg Theatre, from October 9 to 12.
One of five ballets in First Light – which is scheduled as Programme 3 in the season – Mpho offers Lekana and Mokoena an opportunity to showcase unto local audiences the progress they’ve been making in their careers.
A mixed bill which blends classical beauty with new contemporary works which was part of the prestigious International Draft Works (an event spotlighting emerging choreographers from around the globe) – First Light debuted to critical acclaim at the Royal Opera House in London in April 2025.
According to Lekana – who joined the Joburg Ballet in February 2017 and had since progressed to a coryphée – Mpho emanated from a series of vivid dreams which evolved into a rich narrative that examines the search for truth and self-acceptance. He avers that he sees “the essence of Mpho as a journey towards healing and faith” and that it is his hope that the audience will leave with a feeling of “connection, healing and encouragement to discover their own gifts.”
The Pretoria-raised, Tshwane University of Technology-trained Lekana conveys what he refers to as “African ballet” in his dance pieces, in which his dancers are expressively dressed in colourful costumes whilst performing to the accompaniment of drums and African music – instead of the conventional orchestra or piano. Such improvisation from Lekana resonances the late Soweto dancer Dada Masilo’s insistence on fusing African dance with classical ballet – for the heck of discovering why they couldn’t coexist!
Lekana – who commenced his ballet journey at the late age of 19 – embarked on his dance career by dabbling in gymnastics thinking it was ballet. It is precisely such initial naiveté which has since prompted him to expose the art form among black communities through his pieces.
Mokoena, who’ll assume center stage in Mpho, resonates with Lekana regarding exposure to ballet – stating that she hopes to inspire young dancers who may not see themselves represented in classical ballet, by assisting in making the art form more inclusive. One of three siblings, Mokoena started dancing aged 5 – an early spark she now recognizes as having evolved into a lifelong passion.
She attributes her ballet career to her single mother’s guidance and support.
The Joburg Ballet School and Elite Ballet-trained artist offers that she identified ballet as a conduit for channelling her energy as she had always been drawn to movement as a form of expression. She further mentioned that the combination of artistry, discipline and storytelling continues to inspire her every day.
An admirer of the San Francisco Ballet’s dancer Nikisha Fogo, Mokoena – who to date has been part of seven ballets and has participated in approximately twenty roles ranging from classic to contemporary works – added that travelling to different countries has enabled her to learn from different audiences and cultures. Having recently turned 20, she also revealed that another interest of hers lay in the creation of her own dancewear brand.
Mokoena regards being part of Joburg Ballet an incredible honour, privilege and responsibility she takes seriously. Such an attitude for her craft makes her befitting of the rank of predecessors such as Kitty Phetla, Mamela Nyamza, Gladys Agulhas, et al.
During a recent media Open Day at the company’s studios in Braamfontein, she applied herself assuredly alongside a full complement of her cohort who included Lekana, Thabani Ntuli and principal dancers such as Monike Cristina and Revil Yon – as they were being put through their paces by choreographer Dane Hurst.
Another contemporary performer of repute in the company, Nkandla-raised Ntuli begun dancing at 8, training in various dance styles including ballroom, Latin, hip-hop and street dance – later adding gymnastics (in which he earned KwaZulu-Natal provincial colours in 2002 and a gold medal at the 2003 South African Games) in his training, from age 10.
He started ballet training under Domaine Keyser in Howick, KZN and after seeing a ballet performance in Johannesburg, decided to pursue it as a career.
Image Andrej Uspenski (Latoya Mokoena limned performing in Tumelo Lekana’s ”Mpho”, part of First Light, for the Joburg Ballet’s Spring Season of Dance).
His teachers included Alexei Ilin, Christine Elliot and Judith Reign.
Stepping up, Ntuli later enrolled in ballet training at the Ballet Theatre Afrikan – under the revered Martin Schönberg – where he passed his Cecchetti Intermediate and Advanced examinations with Honours.
Currently a Coryphée of the Joburg Ballet, Ntuli – who has also danced with The South African Ballet Theatre – has progressed through ranks whilst performing across South African stages ranging from Cape Town, Pretoria, Secunda, Taung, etc.
A stint with The Dance Factory between 2013 and 2017 had Ntuli globe-trotting from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, etc. to Georgia, Luxembourg, Russia, Switzerland, etc.
His accumulated experience has had him sashaying through Coppélia, Don Quixote, Giselle, Negro Spirituals, La Traviata, Pinocchio (the annual pantomime at the Joburg Theatre in which he has appeared in 88 performances) Swan Lake, The Lion King, The Sleeping Beauty, Vivaldi, et cetera.
A definitive entertainer, Ntuli has graced the limelights of the National Arts Festival, the Concours de Ballet and Concours de Moderne eisteddfods – with his résumé encompassing performances in William Kentridge’s Notes toward a model Opera, and Dada Masilo’s Swan Lake.
The Spring Season of Dance descends on Joburg from October 3 to 12 – with a three performance only world premiere of choreographer Mario Gaglione’s Celestial Bodies on Saturday 4 at 14h00 and 19h00 and Sunday 5 at 14h00 – followed by four performances of First Light from Thursday 9 at 11h00, Friday 10 at 19h00, Saturday 11 at 14h00 and Sunday 12 at 14h00.
Tickets range from R130 to R510, and can be booked on 0861 670 670. Or online at: SANDT Spring Gala – https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1572229542
Celestial Bodies – https://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=1574592164
First Light – https://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=1574593118
For more information, visit: www.joburgballet.com | www.universeonstage.com
Top Image Joburg Ballet (Tumelo Lekana, the Coryphée who’ll be presenting his ballet, Mpho, in the Joburg Ballet’s Spring Season of Dance at the Joburg Theatre).
