Bernard Jay, CEO of the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, says it is building two dance studios, one above the other.

"We designed both studios so they (the South African Ballet Theatre) could rehearse on exactly the same size as the Nelson Mandela Theatre. They are 15m by 15m," says Jay.

The South African Ballet Theatre is expected to take up residence on March 1 next year.

The Johannesburg Civic Theatre is also having a new art gallery built. Art gallery operators The Trinity Session will take over the running of the art gallery from February 1 next year.

Both projects the dance studios and the art gallery, which are valued at about R6,2m are being funded by the City of Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Development Agency and Sappi.

The City of Johannesburg donated R2,5m while the agency donated R2,5m. Sappi donated R1,2m and also undertook the project management.

South African Ballet Theatre CEO Dirk Badenhorst says Johannesburg is a "more lively city" than Pretoria from a financial, entertainment and cultural point of view. The ballet company's affiliated school, the South African Ballet School, will remain at the State Theatre in Pretoria and the company will explore the feasibility of opening a similar facility in Johannesburg.

The South African Ballet Theatre has 32 full-time ballet dancers, 12 student dancers, four administrative staff and two wardrobe staff.

Sappi chairman Eugene van As says the "efforts to uplift and rejuvenate Braamfontein taken by the city, the development agency and the companies headquartered in Braamfontein are beginning to bear fruit".