Dance enthusiasts can experience three celebrated contemporary dance works as the WGRUV Dance Company brings its final production of the year, Angels in Africa, to South African stages in November and December.

The triple bill, which combines themes of love, spirituality and human connection, will open at the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex in Gqeberha from November 5 to 8, then travel to the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Arts and Culture Centre from November 12 to 15. The production will conclude its run at Roodepoort Theatre from December 15 to 20.

Conceived as the company’s season 3 finale, Angels in Africa brings together three distinct works, offering audiences an evening of dance that celebrates both classical ballet and contemporary movement. The programme opens with Reverence, choreographed by Jessica Lang and set to Robert Schumann’s Symphonic Studies, Op 13. The piece explores the relationships between dancers through a series of movements, lifts and embraces, with four couples creating shifting partnerships and circular formations.

Described by Lang as her definition of ballet, the work moves between moments of stillness and fluidity, allowing audiences to experience the emotion and beauty of the performance without needing to interpret every movement.

Read more: Enable Through Dance celebrates 10 years of breaking barriers through movement

The second work, Prayer, is an imaginative collaboration by Lex and Holly Gruver. Using WGRUV’s contemporary dance style, the piece explores spirituality and the unseen, encouraging audiences to look beyond the everyday and reflect on the deeper meaning of life.

The evening will culminate in the South African premiere of Diversion of Angels, a landmark 1948 ballet by American modern dance pioneer Martha Graham. Presented during the centenary year of the Martha Graham Dance Company, the production explores three stages of love: adolescent, romantic and mature. WGRUV will become the first company to bring the celebrated work to South African audiences.

WGRUV artistic director Holly Gruver described the production as a gift to Africa, bringing together three different interpretations of love, connection and spirituality. “Three works, three visions of what it means to love, to reach beyond ourselves and to be still enough to see it,” she said. “We’re grateful to carry Diversion of Angels into the Graham Company’s hundredth year, and to share it here, for the first time, with the audiences of South Africa.”

With its combination of established dance works and a historic South African premiere, Angels in Africa offers an opportunity for both seasoned dance enthusiasts and newcomers to experience contemporary ballet.

The production is also being presented as a family-friendly festive-season offering, with discounted tickets available for children, pensioners and families.

Gqeberha, Eastern Cape

Venue: Mandela Bay Theatre Complex

Ticket prices: Thursday, November 5, 15:00: Dress rehearsal R50 – to book contact Tanya: tanya@wgruvdance.com. All other performances: R250 general, R180 pensioner, R99 for children aged two to 12. Early bird special: 20% discount on general tickets. Valid only on bookings before October 4. Groups: 10 or more tickets – R180 each.

Family packages:

• R1 600 (eight tickets) – R200 each
• R1 290 (six tickets) – R215 each
• R900 (four tickets) – R225 each
• Bookings: webtickets.co.za
• UJ Arts and Culture, Johannesburg

Ticket prices: Thursday, November 12, 15:00: Dress rehearsal R99 – to book contact Tanya: tanya@wgruvdance.com. All other performances: R300 general, R230 pensioner, R120 for children aged two to 12. Early bird special: 20% discount. Valid only on bookings before October 4. Groups: 10 or more tickets – R200 each.

Family packages:

• R1 880 (eight tickets) – R235 each
• R1 530 (six tickets) – R255 each
• R1 100 (four tickets) – R275 each
• Bookings: webtickets.co.za
• Roodepoort Theatre, West Rand

Ticket prices: All performances: R300 general, R230 pensioner, R120 for children aged two to 12. Early bird special: 20% discount.

Also read: Young dance star will never stop moving

Valid only on bookings before October 4. Groups: 10 or more tickets – R200 each.

Family packages:

• R1 880 (eight tickets)
• R1 530 (six tickets)
• R1 100 (four tickets)

Bookings: webtickets.co.za

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!