Where Dance Meets Art: WGRUV’s “Art Effect” Tours Johannesburg, Gqeberha & Roodepoort
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Art Effect” by WGRUV Dance company will be staged at the UJ Arts & Culture Venue from 10 to 12 October 2025 (three performances) before moving to the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex for four performances from 30 October to 2 November 2025 including a 15h00 performance for learners on the first show date. “Art Effect” then returns to Gauteng for three performances at Roodepoort Theatre from 05 to 07 November 2025. The first Roodepoort Theatre performance at 14h00 on Wednesday, 05 November is a matinee especially for school students. Special group and pensioner discounts available. For further details and all ticket bookings visit www.webtickets.co.za.
“Art Effect” features a dynamic fusion of classical technique, personal expression and cultural narrative. The production brings together four distinct choreographic voices, each exploring movement as a powerful artistic statement.
“Vivace Motifs” by New York choreographer Jessica Lang is a restaging of her refined ballet for six dancers, set to the music of Handel and Corelli. Through intricate Baroque-inspired gestures, the piece evokes elegance, symmetry and the enduring grace of classical form. “Postures” by Lex and Holly Gruver draws inspiration from the charcoal artistry of visual artist Greatjoy, translating expressive human figures into movement. With a classical contemporary approach, the piece explores the diverse physical expressions of hope, whether rooted in quiet resolve or joyful release. “Game On” by American dancer and choreographer Lauren Lovette is a bold neoclassical duet that playfully captures the spirit of competition. With sharp interplay and athleticism, two dancers battle for space, timing, and dominance, blurring the lines between sport and art. “Rosie” by Roseline Wilkins (Vuyani Dance) marks WGRUV’s debut in African contemporary vocabulary. This personal and emotive work threads the choreographer’s own journey of hope into a deeply South African narrative – earthy, grounded and full of rhythm and heart. The sounds of live percussionists Decius Pitjadi and Tommy Gruver help lift this piece to a level of power and intrigue.
Greatjoy Ndlovu is a full-time contemporary artist based in Johannesburg. His work explores the concept of merging motion and emotion, aiming to convey the inherent connection between physical expressions and emotional cadence. Greatjoy achieves this by condensing the outward disposition of the body figure – its form and posture – and then distils the likely emotional state of his subject from the nature of the movements.
Jessica Lang is Resident Choreographer at Pacific Northwest Ballet and Artist in Residence at Sarasota Ballet. Since 1999, she has created more than 100 original works on companies worldwide including American Ballet Theatre, The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, the National Ballet of Japan, The Joffrey Ballet and her eponymous company Jessica Lang Dance, among many others.
Lauren Lovette was a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet. She left the company in 2021 to pursue new creative projects as a choreographer and dancer and has since created works including “Dreammachine” for the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Pangaea Calling for the Julliard School and “Tendu” for the School of American Ballet.
Roseline Wilkins is a Senior Dancer with the Vuyani Dance Company, having been with the company for 14 years, as well as a dance teacher and choreographer.
Holly Gruver is the founder and artistic director of WGRUV Dance Company and has choreographed and staged original works in South Africa and America over the past 20 years. Lex Gruver is assistant director of WGRUV, Vaganova trained ballet teacher and choreographer of several original contemporary ballet works including Influence Etched, Lina, Prayer and more.
“Art Effect” sees a collaboration of art, music and dance to manufacture a stage performance that will touch the heart and engage the mind. Join WGRUV Dance Company for performances filled with artistry, meaning and breathtaking dance. Tickets are available from www.webtickets.co.za and cost between R99 and R220.
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“ART EFFECT”
JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG:
Venue: UJ Arts & Culture Venue(@ujartsculture)
Dates & Show Times: Friday, 10 October at 19h00
Saturday, 11 October at 19h00
Sunday, 12 October at 19:00
Ticket prices:
R220 general, R170 pensioner, R155 groups of 10 or more,
R99 for children under 12.
Bookings: webtickets.co.za
GQEBERHA, EASTERN CAPE
Venue: Mandela Bay Theatre Complex(@thembtc_)
Dates & Show Times:
Thursday, 30 October at 15h00
Friday, 31 October at 19h00
Saturday, 1 November at 19h00
Sunday, 2 November at 19:00
Ticket prices:
R220 general, R170 pensioner, R155 groups of 10 or more,
R99 for children under 12.
Bookings: webtickets.co.za
ROODEPOORT, WEST RAND, GAUTENG
Venue: Roodepoort Theatre(@RoodepoortT)
Dates & Show Times: Wednesday, 05 November at 14h00 (Kids show)
Thursday, 06 November at 19h30
Friday, 07 November at 19:30
Ticket prices:
R220 general, R170 pensioner, R155 groups of 10 or more,
R99 for children under 12.
Bookings: webtickets.co.za
