Joburg Ballet dancer Latoya Mokoena is a marvel to watch. It’s not just her sharp yet delicate lines or her stage presence. It’s seeing her sense of purpose, passion and focus fully evident on her face. 

At 20 years old, she’s already carved out her own lane in one of the most rigorous and exclusive art forms in the world. As the only woman of colour in the Joburg Ballet corps de ballet, Latoya is claiming her space, rewriting norms, and reminding us that discipline, representation, and joy can exist in the same breath, even en pointe.

However, Latoya didn’t grow up with visions of tutus and Tchaikovsky. Her early years were spent in Kagiso with her grandmother, surrounded by cousins, music, and dance circles at family gatherings, which she recalls with fondness. Ballet, she says, was a completely foreign concept before her family moved to Johannesburg. “Ballet was very new to me. I didn’t understand what it was when my mom mentioned it,” she reminisces.

She was five when she stepped into her first ballet class at the Joburg Ballet School. It was there, watching the company rehearse in their tutus and satin pointe shoes, that something clicked. “It didn’t come easy at all,” she admits. “But I think that’s what made me want to keep going back…I wanted to get it right, which I’m still trying to do to this day.” 

That determination has carried Latoya through some of ballet’s most demanding pieces, including her recent full-circle performance in Swan Lake, the very first ballet she saw live at the Joburg Theatre at the age of ten. “It was just otherworldly for me. The white tutus and the swans moving together,” she says. “It was very special for me and it stuck with me.” 

But behind the pirouettes and pas de bourrées lies routine. Her days start early with warmup class, followed by hours of rehearsals and sometimes, back-to-back performances. She stays fuelled with snacks like fruit, granola bars, and the occasional sweet treat, and tries to stay tuned into what her body needs.

“I’m not super strict with my diet,” she says. “I’m learning how to listen to my body. Some days I need more food, or I need to sleep more, or I just need something sweet, and that’s okay too.” 

That body is her full-time tool, which means daily Pilates, stretching, injury prevention, and mental health care are all part of the job. “Taking care of my mental health is just as important,” she says. “Sometimes that would mean just having a bit of quiet time after a long day of rehearsals or performances.” 

On performance days, she arrives early, often getting her makeup done before class to avoid the rush backstage. She tries to prepare everything in advance: costume, food, makeup, warmup. Class is sometimes followed by working on some of the trickier parts of a ballet or even a full run-through of the production, and then receiving notes from choreographers and dance coaches before getting her costume for the performance. 

Despite the chaos, there’s a deep love that keeps her coming back. “I love how honest dancing is,” Latoya says. “Your body will always tell the truth. On stage, I get to tap into parts of myself that I don’t usually get to share in my everyday life.” 

Still, Latoya doesn't just dance for herself; she takes up space is a reminder that representation matters especially in spaces that have historically excluded Black and brown bodies. “It’s just a reminder that ballet still has a long way to go in terms of representation.” Though she carries this position with pride and responsibility, she says it can feel isolating at times. 

“I feel incredibly proud to be where I am because I know how hard I’ve worked to be here and I know how many girls who look like me never get the chance to do ballet,” she adds. 

When she’s not dancing, Latoya finds joy in simple things: coffee dates with friends, binge-watching feel-good series, reading, or recharging with family over good food.

And she’s not just dreaming of centre stage but of boardrooms too. Latoya is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration and working on launching her own business. “It's very hard to find the balance between ballet and still after rehearsals and everything, and trying to study and focus. But it stimulates my brain in a different way.” 

Her advice for young dancers? Be patient, show up, do the work and be kind to yourself. Though it can be hard to do, she advises against comparisons and feeling frustrated with your progress: “In this art form, growth doesn't always happen in a straight line.”

In ballet, everyone’s growth looks different; some days are hard, but they are part of the process of improving, as are the good days. “But above everything, just remember to enjoy dance. The love for dance is what will carry you through the hard times of this journey,” she says.