On April 12, under a boundless Johannesburg sky, 250 souls discovered what it means to truly come alive. Soul Therapy, an event meticulously woven by The Allure Group, was not merely a gathering — it was a revolution of the heart.
For eight luminous hours, time stood still as music, memory, and the majesty of Sandton’s skyline fused into a symphony of liberation, proving that joy is not fleeting — it is a flame we carry within.
The Bryanston venue, transformed into an oasis of curated elegance, became more than a space — it became a character in the day’s unfolding story. Plush lounges invited guests to sink into comfort, while the horizon beyond whispered promises of urban majesty.
“We wanted to create a home where the outside world didn’t just fade away — it elevated the experience,” shared Bonnke Shipalana, CEO of The Allure Group, his voice brimming with pride. “To dance with Sandton’s skyline as your witness is to understand that joy has no ceiling.”
As the clock struck 1pm, the air thickened with the unmistakable pulse of 90s Deep House — a genre resurrected with reverence and reinvented with fire.
Legendary DJs Glen Lewis, Ganyani, Fistaz Mixwell, Lali Spirit, and Choice orchestrated a six-hour nonstop journey through the era that defined a generation.
Mixwell’s opening set, a masterclass in rhythm, blended classics like “The Bomb” by Kenny Dope with fresh twists, while Ganyani’s mid-afternoon grooves paid homage to SA’s underground roots.
By sunset, Glen Lewis had taken the decks, weaving soulful vocals and hypnotic basslines that turned the dancefloor into a sea of swaying bodies, hands raised toward the ceiling as if catching the notes mid-air.
“This music isn’t entertainment — it’s alchemy,” Shipalana shared. “For six hours, nobody glanced at their phones. They laughed, they cried, they lived. That’s the power of 90s Deep House — it doesn’t let you sit still. It demands your soul.”
Between sets, guests indulged in a four-course culinary symphony, each dish a nod to South Africa’s rich tapestry of flavours. Yet, even as plates were cleared, the dancefloor never emptied. Attendees drifted between tables and the music, pulled like tides by the beats, their laughter mingling with the clink of crystal.
By 7pm, as Sandton’s skyline ignited into a constellation of urban light, the room had become a living organism. Strangers embraced like old friends; others stood silently scanning the night sky, tears streaming as Mixwell dropped “Let the Beat Hit ‘Em” by Shena.
“I forgot what it felt like to be this free,” confessed a first-time attendee. “For eight hours, this wasn’t Johannesburg. It was heaven.”
The Allure Group extends its deepest gratitude to partners HONOR Technologies, Hennessy, Glenmorangie, Independent Media, and Radio 2000, whose innovation turned vision into visceral reality.
“As the final notes faded, one truth resonated,” Shipalana stated.
“Soul Therapy was never just about a single night. It was a declaration that joy is a sanctuary we build together, and that true luxury lives in the moments that make us feel most alive. To the guests who trusted us with their hearts, the artists who bared their souls, and the partners who fuelled this dream — thank you. This is only the beginning.”
The Star