International Winter Ballet Gala brings world-class ballet stars to Pretoria
Mzansi Ballet, in collaboration with the South African International Ballet Competition, will be presenting the International Winter Ballet Gala at the AfriForum Theatre in Pretoria on Friday 31 July. Staged by Dirk Badenhorst, this exceptional event features word-class dancers from South Africa, Russia, Cuba and the UK for one unforgettable day.
Luna Maia Helm of the Bolshoi Ballet and Lev Melkumov of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy will be featured in the Gala, performing some of ballet’s most dazzling pas de deux, including highlights from Swan Lake (composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) and Le Corsaire (composed by Adolphe Adam).
Adding to this spectacular event, acclaimed Cuban guest artists Greisell Lastre Casuso and Joan Manuel Riera Perez will perform the Diana and Acteon pas de deux (composed by Riccardo Drigo) and the beloved Don Quixote pas de deux (composed by Ludwig Minkus), showcasing their extraordinary artistry, technical brilliance, and virtuosity.
Also joining the impressive line-up is Nico Prinsloo, a former student of the Mzansi Ballet School and currently a student at the world-renowned Royal Ballet School in London. Prinsloo’s return performance with Mzansi Ballet is a proud moment for the company and highlights the exceptional calibre of dancers nurtured through its training programmes. His appearance in the International Winter Ballet Gala celebrates South African talent flourishing on the international stage.
The Gala also celebrates contemporary South African creativity with original choreographic works by Prima Ballerina Angela Revie. Audiences will experience “Desert Moon” from the acclaimed production The Gold Rhino of Mapungubwe, alongside “Hear Our Voices”, “Echoes of Reflection” and Mzansi Ballet’s captivating interpretation of “Carmen” (composed by Georges Bizet). As a special highlight of the evening, Angela Revie will take to the stage to perform the exhilarating Walpurgisnacht pas de deux (composed by Charles Gounod).
Bringing even more excitement to this extraordinary programme, the talented students of the Mzansi Ballet Vocational School will take to the stage in performances of two celebrated classical pas de deux: Flames of Paris (composed by Boris Asafyev) and The Awakening of Flora (composed by Riccardo Drigo), demonstrating the passion, discipline, and promise of the next generation of ballet artists.
Audiences who wish to see these exceptional international artists again will have another opportunity at the 13th South African International Ballet Competition, taking place in Cape Town from 4–6 August, where they will appear alongside many of the world’s most promising young ballet dancers.
The one-day-only International Winter Ballet Gala offers ballet lovers a rare opportunity to experience world-class artistry on a local stage, showcasing internationally acclaimed guest artists alongside South Africa’s finest established and emerging ballet talent.
Details of the International Winter Ballet Gala is as follows:
Date: Friday, 31 July 2026
Time: 15:00 and 19:00
Venue: AfriForum Teater
Tickets: Available at www.afriforumteater.co.za or www.tixsa.co.za
