The show follows Ntombi (Noxolo Dlamini), an ambitious, but frustrated young dancer from Umlazi, Durban who wants to ditch her dead-end job, fetch her nice life,  and get out of her rut and into the spotlight. On her journey to get there, she forms a dance group called the Trollies, made up of four very different but very talented women played by Candice Modiselle (Vuyiswa), Sne Mbatha (Zinhle)  Stella Dlangalala (Lady E) and Zazi Kunene (Nolwazi).  

Choreographed by Bontle Modiselle and Tom London, the show features a wide range of dance styles from Mzansi, all coming together to create a colourful ode to South African dance culture.  An electrifying celebration of South African fashion, dance  and urban life,  JIVA! shows the world the energy and spectacle of our vibrant youth culture.  The series is a nonstop feast for the eyes featuring dazzling creations  from MaXhosa,  Hamethop, Imprint, Siko Republik and Africa Your Time is Now. 

Get ready to  yell ‘Yebo’ and ‘Haai maan!” at the killa moves you’ll see on your screens as JIVA launches this June 24th! 

• JIVA! is a fun and energy-packed drama series that follows the life of the talented street dancer Ntombi, who while juggling the demands of a dead end job, family responsibility and a rocky love life realises that her dance moves could be her ticket out of her working class neighbourhood in Durban. But first, she must overcome her fears, beat her rivals and sort out the chaos that is her family.

• Busisiwe Ntintili, of The Ntintili Factory, is the Creator and Showrunner of JIVA! She is an award winning writer, director and producer with 20 years of television and film under her belt, including South Africa’s highest rated television shows, the Peabody Award Winning drama series “Intersexions” and the box office hit movie “Happiness is a Four Letter Word”.

• Scottnes L. Smith (Hear Me Move, There’s A Bluebird In My Heart, Long Street), award winning Director Mandla Dube (Kalushi) and award winning Director Mmambatho Montsho (Emoyeni, Lockdown) will join the directing team of the series.

• The series stars a dynamic all-local cast, including break out star, Noxolo Dlamini (Sarafina Stage Production, Isibaya) playing the lead, Candice Modiselle (Generations; The Legacy), Sne Mbatha (So You Think You Can Dance), Stella Dlangalala (Funny People Africa), Zazi Kunene (Pinky Pinky), Anga Makubalo (Generations), Given Stuurman (Shuga), Ntuthuzelo Grootboom (PE’s Finest Dance Crew), Zamani Mbatha (Isithembiso) and veteran actor Tony Kgoroge (Invictus, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom), who will be joined by other well-known local talent.

• Bontle Modiselle, dancer, actor and radio personality and Tom London, founder of South Africa’s top dance crew Soweto’s Finest, join the creative team as choreographers for the series.

• JIVA! will be produced by Cape Town based production team Blue Ice Africa with Busisiwe Ntintili, Adam Friedlander and Tebogo Maila as Executive Producers.

Timings and further details are yet to be released but be rest assured that we’ll keep you posted, as always, once we hear more. Giving you a taste, checkout the trailer below: