SA dance drama set for Netflix
NETFLIX has its third African original series Jiva in the pipeline and it has veteran film-maker Busisiwe Ntintili of The Ntintili Factory as the creator, showrunner and executive producer.
Jiva is a drama series about a 25-year-old woman who does a job she doesn’t enjoy to support her family. She has a passion for dancing, and when an opportunity arises, she seizes it.
This series follows Queen Sono and Blood & Water, both of which have been renewed for second seasons.
It stars Noxolo Dlamini, who plays Ntombi, the protagonist.
The series features other familiar faces such as Bontle Modiselle, who is part of Ntombi’s dance group and Given Stuurman, who plays Ntombi’s brother.
Like many other TV shows globally, Jiva has also been affected by Covid-19 and the lockdown.
“We started shooting in February this year, and then Covid-19 came to South Africa, and we had to shut down. We have been in quarantine, and it has been difficult because once you get into the momentum of shooting and you stop, you lose the energy. So everyone has been at home, and we’ve been trying to keep up with the energy so that when we come back, we can still be at that same level, or even higher.
“The girls have been dancing at home, working out with the coaches and choreographers and this pandemic also gave us time to look at the script again because we never have time when we’re shooting,” said Ntintili.
On what she wants the audience to learn from this series, Ntintili said: “I want them to feel joy. It’s a story about a lady following her dreams, and whether you’re a dancer or want to start your fashion line or you dream of buying a farm, it’s about having that courage to take a chance on yourself.
“So I think the show is universal. I hope when people watch they can be inspired, can look at their own lives and find hope and inspiration but also have fun. The dancing is out of this world, and I can’t wait for us to showcase our South African dope dancing to the world.”
The release date for Jiva has not been announced.