JOHANNESBURG — WGRUV Dance Company is proud to announce that South African-born dancer Daniella Venter will join the company as a guest artist for its upcoming production, Highlights: Tracing the Line at UJ Arts Centre running this week from 20 to 23 August. Tickets and more information at wgruvdance.com or book now at webtickets.co.za.
Venter began her ballet training at the age of four in South Africa, training at local ballet schools before continuing her pre-professional education under Karen Beukes from the age of fifteen. At eighteen, she moved to Berlin, Germany, to pursue professional dance training at the Staatliche Ballettschule Berlin.
In her graduating year, she performed the title role in Giselle (Act II) at the school’s annual gala, and went on to graduate in 2023 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Stage Dance. Following her graduation, Venter joined the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich, where she has been a member of the corps de ballet since September 2023. She has since built an extensive repertoire spanning both classical and contemporary works, including John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet and Onegin; John Neumeier’s The Nutcracker (Chinese Dance solo), Swan Lake (Spanish Dance and Butterfly solos), and Lady of the Camellias; Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella and Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland; and the classical ballets Giselle, La Sylphide, and La Bayadère. Her contemporary repertoire includes Autodance by Sharon Eyal, Impasse by Johan Inger, and Cacti by Alexander Ekman. “I am excited to perform again in my home country, especially with the wonderful dancers and people of WGRUV.” says Daniella Venter
Following a successful opening run of their 2026 season and new production “Juxtapose” at Johannesburg’s Roodepoort Theatre and the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex in Gqeberha, independent dance company WGRUV (pronounced “W-Groove”) recently introduced its newest work in Johannesburg when “Highlights” made its debut at the Roodepoort Theatre in July. The show featuring guest artist Daniella Venter opens this week at the UJ Arts & Culture. Highight culminates its three-venue season at the Homecoming Centre in Cape Town from 27 to 29 August 2026.
“Highlights: Tracing the Line” is a celebration of choreographic excellence drawn from some of the most compelling voices in contemporary and classical ballet. “Highlights” offers something both familiar and fresh: a curated collection of audience favourites and new discoveries, brought to life by WGRUV’s artists with the precision and passion the company is known for.
The programme brings together works by internationally acclaimed choreographer Jessica Lang, whose craftsmanship has defined a generation of neo-classical ballet; Lauren Lovette’s fantastic game of dance and life is celebrated through a dual of energy an strength, Jesse Obremski, whose visceral movement language cuts to the heart of human connection; Robyn Mineko William’s, choreographic finesse alongside a deeply powerful narrative, and WGRUV’s own Holly Gruver and Lex Gruver, whose collaborative choreographic voice continues to mature into something distinctly their own.
Together, the works explore the fundamental language of the body – line, colour, weight, and meaning – in a programme designed not merely to be watched, but to be felt.
“We are thrilled to welcome Daniella Venter back to South Africa and to the WGRUV Dance Company family,” says WGRUV Artistic Director Holly Gruver. “Highlight’s highly successful debut season last month was warmly received, with audiences responding positively to the work. Daniella’s addition further strengthens the show’s central message: each work traces something — a gesture, a story, an emotion — and together, these pieces form a line from the stage to the heart.” Holly adds that this is “dance with purpose — dance that connects, moves and leaves audiences feeling more alive than when they arrived.”
From the architecture of a perfectly held line to the explosion of movement in full colour, “Highlights” is a performance that reminds audiences why they come to the theatre: to be seen, to be moved, and to be reminded that beauty is never incidental — it is always intentional.
This Thursday, 20 August, WGRUV is hosting a dress rehearsal at 15h00 for students and school groups followed by a Q&A session with the WGRUV dancers. Tickets cost R50 per student. To book, contact tanya@wgruvdance.com
WGRUV Dance Company (NPC 2022/508213/08), founded by Holly Gruver, is Johannesburg’s contemporary ballet company, dedicated to communicating hope through world-class artistic storytelling. Based in Bryanston, the company works with South African and international choreographers to produce work of depth, beauty, and cultural significance across South Africa and beyond.
Invited guest choreographers and dancers such as Daniella Venter bring an exciting new dimension to the already highly talented WGRUV Dance Company. Their diverse artistic voices, international experience and distinctive movement styles enrich the company’s repertoire, creating fresh collaborations and dynamic performances. This exchange of ideas and expertise not only elevates the work on stage but also strengthens WGRUV’s commitment to creating bold, contemporary dance that connects South African talent with the wider international dance community.
Book now for “Highlights” and make sure to diarise WGRUV’s remaining three runs for the year: “Angels In Africa” from 12 to 15 November at the UJ Arts Centre and 15 to 20 December at the Roodepoort Theatre, with performances at the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex provisionally planned for 2 to 7 November.
“In these three new works that we have created – ‘JUXTAPOSE’, ‘Highlights’ and ‘Angels In Africa’ – we have a beautiful programme for 2026 that can be defined by saying. ‘One Line. Three Visions. Infinite Humanity’,” says Holly Gruver.
See “Highlights” from 20 to 23 August UJ Arts Centre, Johannesburg and 26 to 29 August at the Homecoming Centre in Cape Town. Tickets from R220 to R300 with special group discounts of 10% on five-plus tickets and 20% on ten-plus tickets valid only on first two prices. Book now at Webtickets.co.za and more information at wgruvdance.com
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