Swan Lake is a timeless tale of love, betrayal, and the battle between light and darkness. Now, for the first time in nearly 30 years, South Africa’s two premier ballet companies, Joburg Ballet and Cape Town City Ballet, come together to stage the iconic production. The production opens on Fri, Jul 4 – Sun, Jul 13, 2025 at the Joburg Theatre and then moving to Cape Town from Fri, Jul 25 – Sun, Jul 27, 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Since the first performance in Moscow 148 years ago in 1877, Swan Lake has been performed by ballet companies around the world, with its leading role danced by the great ballerinas of every generation. It tells the story of Prince Siegfried, who falls in love with Odette, a princess cursed to live as a swan by day. As he battles the sorcerer Von Rothbart’s deception, love and fate collide in a dramatic, heartbreaking finale.

Originally staged in Cape Town in 1971 by French dancer Attilio Labis, Swan Lake is restaged for this special season by acclaimed South African choreographer Veronica Paeper. Expect sweeping choreography, exquisite costumes, and Tchaikovsky’s legendary score, performed live by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra for the Johannesburg season, and a specially assembled orchestra under conductor Brandon Phillips in Cape Town.

A stellar lineup of principal dancers, including Monike Cristina, Tammy Higgins, Ryoko Yagyu, Bruno Miranda, Revil Yon, Ivan Domiciano, Kirstel Paterson, Leusson Muniz, Hannah Ward, and Jerome Barnes bring the magic of Swan Lake to the stage.

With classic choreography, moving orchestration, and one of ballet’s most powerful stories, Swan Lake is set to be an unmissable highlight for dance lovers of all ages from Fri, Jul 4 – Sun, Jul 13 at the Joburg Theatre. Performances take place from Wed to Sun. Tickets from R125 – R670 per person are available to book here.