Gqeberha’s theatre scene is getting a rather special addition this November as WGRUV Dance Company returns to the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex with Angels in Africa, a production featuring the South African premiere of Martha Graham’s Diversion of Angels.
There’s something quite lovely about knowing that audiences in the Bay will be among the first in South Africa to experience a work that has been performed internationally for nearly eight decades.
From 5 to 8 November, WGRUV Dance Company will take to the stage at the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex with Angels in Africa, a triple bill exploring love, spirituality and human connection through contemporary dance.
The production marks the conclusion of the company’s 2026 season and brings together three works, each offering a different perspective on movement and storytelling.
A piece of dance history comes to the Bay
The production’s centrepiece is Diversion of Angels, created in 1948 by American modern dance pioneer Martha Graham.
Exploring three stages of love — youthful, romantic and mature — the ballet arrives in South Africa during the centennial year of the Martha Graham Dance Company.
WGRUV will be the first company to present the work on South African stages, making its Gqeberha performances a significant moment for local dance audiences.
But there’s more to the programme than its historic finale.
The evening opens with Reverence, choreographed by Jessica Lang and set to Robert Schumann’s Symphonic Studies. Featuring four couples, the work explores relationships through movement, stillness and shifting partnerships.
This is followed by Prayer, created by Lex and Holly Gruver, which uses contemporary dance to explore spirituality and the things we cannot always put into words.
For WGRUV Artistic Director Holly Gruver, bringing these three works together is an opportunity to share different interpretations of love and connection with South African audiences.
Bringing contemporary dance to Gqeberha
Founded by Gruver, WGRUV Dance Company combines classical ballet techniques with contemporary storytelling.
Following its Gqeberha performances, Angels in Africa will travel to Johannesburg before concluding its run at the Roodepoort Theatre in December.
For the Bay, however, there’s an opportunity to experience the production first, including a piece of international dance history making its South African debut.
Angels in Africa runs at the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex from 5 to 8 November 2026. Tickets start at R99 for children, with general admission at R250. A 20% early-bird discount on general tickets is available for bookings made before 4 October.
Tickets are available at Webtickets.
Focus keyword: Angels in Africa Gqeberha
Meta description: WGRUV Dance Company brings Angels in Africa to Gqeberha this November, featuring the South African premiere of Martha Graham’s Diversion of Angels.
Leave a Reply