South African dancers, musicians and vocalists are joining forces for a national theatre production that celebrates artistic collaboration, cultural expression and the growing contribution of local talent to the performing arts.
WGRUV Dance Company’s Angels In Africa will bring together contemporary dance, classical music, jazz and live vocal performances in a three-city tour spanning Gqeberha and Johannesburg during November and December 2026.
The production opens at the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex in Gqeberha from 5 to 8 November, before moving to the University of Johannesburg Arts and Culture Centre from 12 to 15 November and concluding with a festive-season run at Roodepoort Theatre from 15 to 20 December.
Beyond its combination of dance and music, the production creates a platform for South African artists from different disciplines to collaborate, showcase their expertise and connect with audiences across generations.
The company will be joined by cellist Sizekile Shuba, violinist Phakamani Pega and jazz bassist Emmanuel Paul, who will perform live musical interludes between the dance works in each city.
Professional singer and vocal coach Shaz will also contribute to the production, bringing her experience in jazz performance and music education to the stage.
The collaboration highlights the relationship between artistic performance and skills development, with several participating musicians actively involved in teaching, mentoring and expanding opportunities within South Africa’s creative sector.
Shaz studied jazz performance at the University of Cape Town and has performed with the Afro-jazz band Ntsako, including appearances at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in 2007 and the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz in 2016.
Since 2013, she has been one of the lead vocalists for Johannesburg Afro-jazz band SAXOKAY, while also tutoring emerging musicians.
Violinist Phakamani Pega’s musical journey began at the Welcome Soweto School of Music when he was 12 years old, demonstrating the importance of early access to arts education in developing professional talent.
He later attended the National School of the Arts, where he earned several classical music awards and achieved the highest score in the Trinity Music Exams for three consecutive years.
His appearance in the South African film Mozart – The Music of the Violin helped open international opportunities, leading him to study at Berklee College of Music in the United States.
Today, Pega works across classical music, jazz, folk, fusion and other genres, combining performance with composition, teaching and musical collaboration.
Cellist Sizekile Shuba brings another dimension to the production through her work in arts education, cultural development and institutional leadership.
Alongside her performance career, she runs That Orchestra Chic Consulting and serves as the founding executive director and programme convenor of the Arts In Action Foundation NPC.
Her contribution to the arts sector was recently recognised through the 2026 Goethe-Institut Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture Programme Individual Mobility Grant.
Jazz bassist, composer and sound engineer Emmanuel Paul studied jazz at the Tshwane University of Technology and was among the winners of the 2015 Road to Standard Bank Joy of Jazz competition.
He subsequently performed at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival with his band The Afrikaan Child, which featured Shaz as a vocalist.
Together, the musicians represent different pathways into South Africa’s creative economy, from community-based music education and tertiary training to international study, professional performance and arts development.
Their participation adds a live musical dimension to Angels In Africa, a triple-bill production exploring human connection, spirituality and love through movement.
The programme includes Reverence, choreographed by Jessica Lang and set to Robert Schumann’s Symphonic Studies, Op. 13.
Performed by four couples, the work explores interconnectedness through fluid movement, shifting partnerships, lifts and recurring circular formations.
The second work, Prayer, choreographed by Lex and Holly Gruver, uses movement to explore themes of spirituality, imagination and emotional expression.
The production concludes with Diversion of Angels, a landmark 1948 ballet by American modern dance pioneer Martha Graham.
Presented during the Martha Graham Dance Company’s centennial year, the work explores adolescent, romantic and mature love through a celebrated composition.
According to WGRUV, this marks the first time the work will be performed by a company in South Africa, introducing local audiences to an important piece of international dance heritage.
WGRUV Artistic Director Holly Gruver said the inclusion of live musicians recognises the central role music plays in dance and choreography.
“As dancers and choreographers, we are profoundly moved and influenced by music,” said Gruver.
“Recognising and paying tribute to this by including live musical interludes in Angels In Africa and working with special talents like Shaz, Sizekile, Phakamani and Emmanuel is such a joy.”
The production is also being positioned as a family-friendly theatre experience, with discounted children’s tickets, group bookings and family packages available across the three venues.
In Gqeberha, general admission tickets cost R250, with pensioner tickets at R180 and tickets for children aged two to 12 at R99.
At the University of Johannesburg Arts and Culture Centre and Roodepoort Theatre, general admission costs R300, pensioner tickets are R230 and children’s tickets are R120.
Discounted group and family packages are available, creating opportunities for families and larger groups to experience professional dance and live music together.
The national tour reflects the value of bringing established and emerging creative talent into shared performance spaces while exposing audiences to different musical traditions and choreographic styles.
It also highlights the contribution of arts education, mentorship and professional collaboration to sustaining South Africa’s performing arts sector.
Through its combination of local musicianship, contemporary dance and internationally recognised choreography, Angels In Africa demonstrates how artistic partnerships can strengthen cultural participation and create meaningful opportunities for creative expression.
Tickets are available through Webtickets, with additional production information at www.wgruvdance.com.
