On the occasion of the Italian Research Day in the World, the Italian Cultural Institute in Pretoria, in partnership with the Embassy of Italy in Pretoria, Joburg Ballet, and the University of Johannesburg, presents Celestial Bodies, a unique performance where contemporary dance and astronomy come together in a free immersive artistic experience. The performance will take place at the UJ Arts & Culture – Johannesburg, on 14 April 2026, from 18:00.
Admission is free; advance booking is required. Tickets for the are available at the following link:
Created by choreographer Mario Gaglione in collaboration with Joburg Ballet, and developed with the science-performance duo Universe on Stage, this production transforms cosmic discovery into movement, music and visual storytelling.
This event is an invitation to experience the cosmos not only through telescopes — but through art, imagination and shared human curiosity.
Through a seamless dialogue between art and science, Celestial Bodies invites audiences to explore our shared connection to the universe — not through equations and instruments, but through the expressive power of the human body.
Science as Creative Inspiration
The performance draws inspiration from the groundbreaking radio astronomy research taking place in South Africa.
At the forefront of this exploration stands MeerKAT, one of the world’s most advanced radio telescope arrays, and a key component of the global Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKA). These extraordinary scientific initiatives are expanding our understanding of galaxies, black holes and the origins of the universe.
Celestial Bodies captures this spirit of discovery — translating vast cosmic phenomena into rhythm, gesture and emotion.
The evening will begin with an engaging introduction by the two distinguished astronomers Prof. Mattia Vaccari (Research Director and Research Professor in Astroinformatics, University of Cape Town, UCT) and Prof. Lucia Marchetti (Senior Lecturer in the Department of Astronomy, University of Cape Town, UCT) . During their presentation, they will offer insights into what it means to conduct cutting-edge, data-intensive astronomical research in South Africa today, and how international collaborations between Italy and South Africa — contribute to innovation, technological advancement, and academic excellence.
Programme:
18:00 – 18:30
Welcome, seating, and informal networking
18:30 – 19:00
Introductory remarks
Prof. Vaccari & Marchetti’s Talk
19:00 – 20:00
Celestial Bodies – Performance
Presented within the framework of the Italian Research Day in the World, this event celebrates the dialogue between science and the arts, and the enduring collaboration between Italy and South Africa in the field of astronomy.
Through dance, Celestial Bodies reminds us that science is not only about observation and measurement — it is also about imagination, wonder and our shared human story beneath the same sky.
Accessible, evocative and visually compelling, the performance speaks to all audiences — whether passionate about science, devoted to the arts, or simply curious about the world beyond our planet. Celestial Bodies is an invitation to look up — and to experience the cosmos not only through telescopes, but through art, imagination and shared human curiosity.
Join us for an evening of science, movement and wonder.