Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
South African melodrama has fun nightclub dance sequences.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Jiva!
What's the Story?
JIVA! takes place in Durban, South Africa, where one community is buzzing about the upcoming Jiva Luxion dance competition. Reality TV star and former winner Nathi (Ntuthuzelo Grootboom) returns home for the competition and to reconnect with his high school girlfriend, Ntombi (Noxolo Dlamini). Ntombi has been stuck in Durban since her promising dance career was derailed by a family tragedy. She resents Nathi for becoming a star, but seeing him again motivates her to put together her own dance crew to compete in the Jiva Luxion.
Is It Any Good?
As a straightforward, young-adult melodrama, this probably wouldn't stand out, but as a vehicle for South African dance crews, the show is a lot of fun. Jiva! takes place in Durban, a real-life cultural epicenter for music and dance that will appeal to U.S. viewers to see the influence of trends in hip-hop, pop, and house music. And, while the dance competition premise itself is a cliche, the show features a strong ensemble of distinctive characters. What it might lack in plot originality, Jiva! more than makes up for with joyful performances, on and off the dance floor.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dance. How does dancing fit into life in Durban? What is the dancing like? What is the music like? What are the similarities and differences between dance in your area and South Africa?
Why was Ntombi's career derailed? How does she cope with her disappointments? How does this change over the course of the series? What steps does she take to change her life for the better?
How does reality TV fit into the story? How does being on television affect the characters' actions? What complications does reality TV add to the characters' lives?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 24, 2021
- Cast : Noxolo Dlamini , Stella Dlangalala , Tony Kgoroge
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Arts , Friendship , History
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate