Joburg Ballet and UJ Arts & Culture present 'The Bacchae: An African Choral Ballet', a world-first Choral Ballet reimagining Euripides’ iconic tragedy through a uniquely South African lens.
The full-length ballet reinterprets the tale with 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.
The production is directed by the visionary Jay Pather, choreographed by the multi-award-winning choreographer Mthuthuzeli November, conceptualised and composed by the celebrated composer Neo Muyanga and features the powerful voices of the acclaimed UJ Choir and a live chamber orchestra.