🔗 Share this article

In a practice hall in the eastern part of Jo’burg, dance instructor Janecke guided a team of student cheerleaders through a routine. After hours of practice of everything from body rolls to vogue dance with pom-poms, the excited group surrounded Janecke to record a social media video of one of the trending South African amapiano trends. They finished in a couple of tries.

Expanding Worldwide Presence

Janecke has been at the forefront of the increasing worldwide popularity of South African dance and music over the past few years. Having worked with artist the star since she was 17, he created the trending routine that went with hit song “the track Water,” which propelled the emerging African artist to international recognition.

“Reflecting about my life it touches me deeply to realize the point it’s come to, and that where it’s come to is a new start,” he said.

Early Years

His childhood was spent in a community in Cape Town and later Eldorado Park, both traditionally classified as “designated” areas. Inspired by his grandpa playing pop icons, and would dance at celebrations. Originally planned to study finance after school, but could not ignore the attraction of performance, in which he has never been formally trained.

Professional Journey

In the early 2010s, he delved into identity in dance and acknowledged himself as LGBTQ+. He was instrumental in launching a performance group, the country’s first all-male dance team focused on ballroom-inspired styles, movement genres that originated in the ballroom scene in the late 1980s and 1990s.

The crew, which grew to include women and a costume designer, participated in numerous broadcast dance competitions. Yet, it placed as runner-up in almost all event, something Janecke attributed to the country not yet being ready for LGBTQ+ artists.

Years ago, the group was assaulted at a taxi stand as they returned from performing at an LGBTQ+ celebration. A group surrounded their taxi, yelling and shaking the taxi from side to side, until the operator finally convinced them to leave. “It was:‘Well, this is the end for you,’” shared Janecke.

Major Opportunities

Eventually, the group dissolved, as Janecke was hired individually, working on the talent show a broadcast series for six years. He was hired by the singer’s early representatives to work with her. “I thought: ‘There’s something about this artist.’ I noticed it in their eyes,” he expressed.

Fast-forward to 2025, the cheerleading practice was just shortly after the MTV Video Music Awards. The artist received a trophy for Push2Start. The visual was designed under his direction, who was also nominated for top choreographer.

It marked the pinnacle of several two years of working with Tyla internationally on events like The Voice finale to the an entertainment ceremony and a major event. Janecke also created US and UK shows for an artist and taught dance workshops at a New York institution, the school of the a renowned company in NYC, and at a Los Angeles venue.

Next Goals

“For me, the completion of that phase is the VMA nomination,” Janecke said. He was on set when he discovered he had been nominated: “I at once became emotional. It overwhelmed me, I think I still get emotional, because … I woke up, 3am, to watch the awards broadcast. I was certain that this moment is where my path leads.”

Using his hands as he talked, getting up to demonstrate routines. “I must take the right steps to persist in sharing and establishing my work out there, separate from the artists attached to it.”

He shared his dreams – securing a American representative, working with names such as Dua Lipa and Doechii to music icons, and entering the Korean pop industry, commercials and stage productions. He mentioned fellow choreographer Robbie Blue as achieving the caliber he is confident he is able to reaching.

Remaining Loyal

Even so, Janecke was clear he would continue collaborating with Tyla: “She is like family for life … She is deeply committed about her art and really shifting the landscape in the industry.”

Even as Janecke expressed frustration that the local industry was missing the structured and seamless working environment of the America, he said he was South African to his core. “The dream I hold got a routine done by the entire globe … so, to my mind, my aspiration is a vision born on this continent.”