Sub-heading: Jazzart’s Meraki Festival Returns in 2026 with an Expanded Two-Week Celebration of Dance and Storytelling
Cape Town, South Africa, 19 January 2026 – Jazzart Dance Theatre, one of South Africa’s leading contemporary dance companies with a legacy spanning over five decades, is proud to announce the return of the Meraki Dance Festival, expanding it into a two-week celebration of dance and storytelling at Artscape from 26 February to 7 March 2026.
Meraki – meaning “to do something with soul, creativity and love, leaving a piece of yourself in the work” – returns in 2026 under the theme “Our Stories”, a celebration of lived experience, heritage, identity and imagination, told through the moving body. It too speaks to of how dance is both a mirror and a messenger. It reflects who we are and where we come from – our stories of joy, struggle, memory and becoming, and at the same time it is carried forward beyond words and passed on to others.
New in 2026: Two Weeks, Two Spaces
This year Meraki will stretch across two consecutive weeks and two performance spaces at Artscape.
Week One (26 – 28 February 2026) takes place in the Arena, featuring three days of workshops in styles including Contemporary, Pan-African, Amapiano and Hip Hop, ending in a midday performance showcasing young dancers. This platform was curated to inspire and engage school-aged audiences.
Week Two (5 – 7 March 2026) moves into the Artscape Theatre, with masterclasses led by leading practitioners, evening performances, and a Saturday matinee for broader audiences.
Jazzart Managing Director, Averil Hughes says: “Every collaboration begins with a story. We give each other our thoughts, dreams and ambitions…and often, pieces of our hearts. As Meraki enters its second year, although we’re still finding our feet, what is already visible, is the community and connection that gathers around this festival – artists and audiences coming together to share their stories through movement and we look forward to seeing that bond strengthen in 2026.”
Meraki 2026 features returning companies including Figure of 8 Dance Theatre, Gain Collective, Imbewu Dance Collective, Cape Ballet Africa and SboNdaba Dance alongside new companies EOAN Dance Company, Basic Black, Waterfront Theatre School, Unmute Dance Theatre and Dance for All.
Championing the next generation of Storytellers – Staying true to Jazzart’s commitment to supporting young artists, Meraki 2026 creates space for emerging voices to be seen and heard. The festival features young choreographers Ashlynn Erasmus, Adrienne Newman, Lee van der Merwe, Nick Masepe and Zoe Fredericks.
Lastly, Jazzart Dance Theatre and New World Dance Theatre have collaborated to create a new work to be premiered at the festival called “Our Stories” which brings the festival’s theme to life.
Festival Dates:
26 February – 7 March 2026
Venue:
Artscape
