“The dance. I miss the dance. I miss the discipline, the sweating, the emotions, the sensations … When I danced, nothing else existed.” – Johnny Clegg, Scatterling of Africa
Quoting these evocative words during his keynote address, North-West University (NWU) vice-chancellor and principal, Prof Bismark Tyobeka, officially opened the newly relocated NWU Gallery on the Potchefstroom Campus on 25 June 2025. The quote set the tone for the gallery’s debut exhibition in its new home - I Hope You Dance - a powerful and poetic showcase drawn from the university’s esteemed art collection.
Now situated in Building F16G near Protection Services, the gallery’s new location marks a fresh chapter in its 22-year history. Since its inception in 2002, the NWU Gallery had shared a space with the Ferdinand Postma library and Archives. The move establishes a dedicated environment for art, culture and connection.
The I Hope You Dance exhibition is open to the public until 4 July 2025 and reflects on life as a metaphorical choreography. The featured works explore themes of movement, rhythm, grace, struggle, and transformation, mirroring the complex dance of human experience.
In his address, Prof Tyobeka described the gallery as “an asset not only for the NWU but also for the broader community in our province.” He emphasised that the space must “serve as a platform for all artists to showcase their work and remind us of who we are as a people and our individual and collective roles in society.”
Highlighting the exhibition’s launch during Youth Month, he further reflected on the role of art in shaping collective memory. “It is through various types of artistic expression that we remember events that have shaped our country and the world,” he said.
The group Gospella, an NWU art society, opened the programme with rich vocal harmonies that set a warm tone. The student jazz trio Typical 3 also filled the air with smooth, soulful sounds and created a warm, inviting ambience.
Newly appointed curator Sheryl Msomi expressed her joy at the gallery’s official reopening and thanked attendees for their support. “How much access the people of the NWU have to the university collection is amazing! The fact that staff can reach out to the gallery and loan works for their offices, boardrooms and shared spaces is truly inspiring,” she said.
Senior Manager for NWU Arts, Jaco van der Walt, also shared his appreciation and highlighted the significance of the occasion for the university’s creative community and urged all staff and students to visit the gallery and explore the collection.
