Artistic Profile

Artistic Profile

South African based Afrofusion and Contemporary Dance Company

Thabo Rapoo and Muzi Shili in Flesh by Gregory Vuyani Maqoma

“Nyakaza o fetohe – making a difference through dance”

This motto embodies what MIDM does, has done and has stood for three decades while contributing to the development of arts, culture and heritage in South Africa.

Founding and Artistic Director: Sylvia Magogo Glasser

Deputy Artistic Director: Themba Nkabinde

Resident Choreographer: Thabo Rapoo

Assistant Company Managers: Muzi Shili and Faith Maseko

Projects Administrator: Jabulani Sydney Nyandeni

Rehearsal Director: Sonia Radebe

Financial Manager: Busi Radebe

Moving into Dance Mophatong was registered as a Trust in 2001. It has been a registered fund-raising organization since 1984 (No. 01100412 0009) with Section 18A status and is registered as an NPO (001-291 NPO).

MIDM background

The disciplined creativity has produced wonderful individual dancers and great new choreographers. Long may Moving into Dance Mophatong remain in the forefront of beautiful expression in our country and the world (Justice Albie Sachs 2008).

Luyanda Sidiya and Sonia Radebe in Blankets of Shame by Sylvia Glasser

Moving into Dance Mophatong Company was founded by Sylvia Magogo Glasser in 1978 as a non‑racial dance company. Since inception she has been the Artistic Director of Moving into Dance Mophatong. The work it has performed has been an original blending of African movement, ritual and music with Western contemporary dance forms and music.

MIDM aims to present work that is thought-provoking, innovative, yet accessible. Their work is characterized by its sheer physical beauty, and its spiritual expressiveness.

Since 1990 the company has performed to enthusiastic audiences in Africa (Angola, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lome and Nigeria), Australia, Canada, the United States of America, Malaysia, Israel, Jordan, Europe (Croatia, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) as well as in Southern Africa.

The professional Dance Company consists of up to 10 dancers between the age of 20 and 30. All members of the company have been trained in Moving into Dance Mophatong’s teacher training courses. The Company are versatile performers, equally at home in theatres as they are in arenas, schools, community halls, conferences and product promotions.

The Company teaches workshops and classes in Contemporary, Afrofusion, African Dance and Edudance and have also received numerous awards, both international and local.

· MIDM uses dance as a powerful force which has made a direct difference to hundreds of lives and impacted on thousands more.

· MIDM uses the performing arts as a tool for education and training for youth and a means of providing job opportunities for trained dancers, teachers and choreographers.

As stated by the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund:

“Moving into Dance has enriched and enlivened cultural life. Its greatest achievement, however, has been its impact on the lives of thousands of young South Africans, demonstrating the powerful influence of the arts.”

Current repertoire

Luyanda Sidiya and Sonia Radebe in Blankets of Shame by Sylvia Glasser

Blankets of Shame

Choreographed by

Sylvia Magogo Glasser

Blankets of Shame explores the concept of stigma and denial through imagery relating to birth, death, love, lust, brutality, abuse of women and children and healing. People’s capacity for cruelty and disassociation as well as their potential for tenderness and compassion are examined. Blankets of Shame lifts the blankets of silence through a ritualistic journey interweaving dance, music, the human voice and fabric. Luyanda Sidiya and Sonia Radebe in Blankets of Shame by Sylvia Glasser

Press quote: “The crude headlines of child molestation, death and disease are turned into a deep ritual that is both raw and healing… elegantly devised with a sophisticated structure…” (Heather Mackie, The Weekender, 27-28 May 2006.)

Ek sê…Hola!

Choreographed by Gregory Vuyani Maqoma

Gregory Maqoma has given Ek sê … Hola! in which he blends Kwaito with contemporary dance, a face lift to celebrate Moving into Dance Mophatong’s 30^th anniversary. The work challenges the notion of our urban dance forms and blends them with contemporary classical music of the west, thus creating a new vocabulary that remains uniquely South African. This work is energetic and inventive and builds bridges between popular urban dance forms and theatrical contemporary dance and music.

eMandulo

Mpho Kunene and Muzi Shili in eMandulo by Thabo Rapoo

Choreographed by Thabo Rapoo

This work explores issues about the importance of the role played by women in traditional society and how that impacts on contemporary living in term of values and morals.

“Botlhale ba phala bo tswa phalaneng” – Mapela Mabuza (Thabo’s Mother)

“The beginning of wisdom is to know who we are” Tlokwe Sehume (Thabo’s mentor)

Flesh

Moving into Dance Company in Flesh by Gregory Vuyani Maqoma

Choreographed by

Gregory Vuyani Maqoma.

This work is inspired by the Japanese spirituality, philosophy, rituals and discipline in line with the spiritual healers and prophets of Southern Africa. Stripped of all excess, the work is based on the minimal aspects of unencumbered flesh. Flesh persists, even when transformed after death.

Press quote: “A Kaleidoscope of dance food for the soul…” Sunday World – World of Business, 17 September 2006

Hanano – Blessing of the Earth

Choreographed by

Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe.

The Land, the Earth, the Horizon, the Sky, All connected.

We dwell for years, but..

do not know its power, strength, gentleness…

Through our blessing of the earth

we learn to feel, hear, smell the energy…

Through our feet, toes, knees, eyes, fingers, back, chest,

head and torso.

In this way we connect ourselves to her unlimited powers,

and can acquire strength, power, gentleness…

Sonia Radebe, Muzi Shili and Vincent Mantsoe in Hanano by Vincent Mantsoe

Press quote: “The binding connection is Mantsoe’s rhythmic flair twinned with his spirituality which informs each gesture, each step.” (A.Sichel, The Star Tonight, 15.03.95)

Kgotla - Meeting Place

Choreographed by Thabo Rapoo

Moving into Dance Company in Kgotla by Thabo Rapoo

Kgotla is a place where people meet to deal with conflict resolution and other issues that affect the community.

Press quote: “… new pieces like Thabo Rapoo’s fascinating Kgotla, interrogating traditional values…” Adrienne Sichel, Sunday Independent, May 2, 2004

Layers of Time

Choreographed by Gregory Vuyani Maqoma

Moving into Dance Company in Layers of Time by Gregory Vuyani Maqoma

Originally choreographed in 1998, this work was revived in 2004 to celebrate ten years of Democracy in South Africa. The boot was originally the symbol of hope for better things to come. It begins as an element of oppression, is used, rejected and finally absorbed. The work examines dance through time, life through layer by layer. It is a celebration of the past,

the present and the future, revealing the difficult history of our journeys to success.

MiDance with Hugh

Choreographed by Themba Nkabinde

Stimela was first created by Themba Nkabinde for the MIDM Company in 1995 to Hugh Masekela’s song of the same name. In 2004 by special invitation from Barbara Masekela, SA Ambassador to the USA, the MIDM Company performed at the Kennedy Center, Washington in celebration of 10 years of Democracy in South Africa. For this special event Themba Nkabinde and Gregory Maqoma collaborated on a reworking of Stimela. Under the title of MiDance with Hugh it was performed with internationally renowned musician Hugh Masekela for the grand finale of the evening.

Mummy, mummy, I have seen this piece only once

and I know what it’s about

Choreographed by David Thatanelo April

Gregory Maqoma in Mummy, mummy by David Thatanelo April

The revival of the “African” Swan entrances and amuses audiences.

Mzansi-Africa Delight

This work is derived from the joy and delight we take in celebrating our rich South African culture.

The collage was created by Gregory Vuyani Maqoma incorporating works of Sylvia Glasser, Vincent Mantsoe,

Muzi Shili, Gregory Vuyani Maqoma and David Thatanelo April from the Company repertoire

Speaking with Tongues & Ngoma- Music

Choreographed by Vincent Sekwati Koko Mantsoe

The body becomes the music and the music becomes the dance.

Stone Cast Ritual

Choreographed by Sylvia Magogo Glasser

Moving into Dance Company in Stone Cast Ritual by Sylvia Glasser

This work uses stones collected from the beach to embark on a mesmerizing ritualistic journey during which the dancers create intricate polyrhythms and call-and-response patterns of sound. The work evokes images of the sea and nature as well as traditional work movements such as grinding corn.

ancient african

rhymythmical ritual

resounding rocks

hypnotically weaving

waves of worship

ways of work

stone cast

changes of image

images of change

This work is dedicated to Mr. Jelte van Wieren, Cultural Attaché to the Netherlands Embassy in South Africa from 1991 - 1994.

Press quote: "The repetition of dancers progressing in a ziggurat pattern across the stage ...created a hypnotically beautiful effect of considerable integrity". (M.Jenkins, The Citizen 15.03.94)

"Sylvia Magogo Glasser showed that she is the doyenne of African-dynamics." (M.Beukes, Die Beeld, 15.03.94)

Threads

Choreographed by Sylvia Magogo Glasser

Lebo Mashile and Itumeleng Hlapane in Threads by Sylvia Glasser

Threads is a cross cultural and cross generational artistic collaboration between Sylvia Magogo Glasser and Lebo Mashile. Created for MIDM’s 30th anniversary, Threads aspires to seamlessly merge dance and poetry. This piece can be thought of as a verbal dance or a physical poem.

The collaboration deals with gender relationships, cultural and artistic identity in South African society. Glasser and Mashile’s experience in vastly different fields and their deep admiration for each other’s work has lead to a unique blend of the imaginative and the real, the young and the mature, the movement of poetry and the language of dance.

Lebo Mashile and Itumeleng Hlapane in Threads by Sylvia Glasser

Press quote: “When incantation and trance-like dancing combine in this way, or better still, when verbal virtuosity is matched by the lithe ingenuity of the body – and particularly in Threads” (Chris Thurman, The Sunday Independent 2^nd November, 2008)

“Glasser’s choreography has been enriched through collaboration and the dancers are strong and dramatic, the work is powerful but deeply lyrical”. (Tammy Ballantyne - Business Day 28^th October 2008).

Tranceformations

Choreographed by Sylvia Magogo Glasser

Moving into Dance Company in Tranceformations by Sylvia Glasser

This choreography was inspired by Bushman or San rock art and trance dancing. The San were the indigenous hunting and gathering people of southern Africa. Their trance dance or healing ritual and their rock art were both part of their complex belief system. It is likely that their rock art arose out of the experiences of the shamans or medicine men. During the healing ritual the medicine men acquired supernatural potency and they experienced an altered state of consciousness.

Tranceformations explores the physical sensations, hallucinations, and transformations visualized and experienced by the ritual healers while in trance. All the images in the choreography were depicted on the San rock art. The dance shows what the shamans do, feel and see. The final transformation in our journey takes the San into the modern world. This dance pays tribute to a dispossessed people and their culture.

Press quote: "Breakthrough for S.A. dance as art. Its all too rare that a South African work (with the emphasis on African) boldly breaks new ground choreographically, aesthetically and culturally." (A.Sichel, The Star Tonight, 11.10.91)

Virtually Blond

Choreographed by Gregory Vuyani Maqoma

Nhlanhla Mahlangu, Thabo Rapoo and Sonia Radebe in Virtually Blond by Gregory Vuyani Maqoma

An emotionally charged work, which is edgy and confrontational in its dealing with how the body unconsciously reveals one’s hidden narratives and asks “What do we keep hidden or secret, and why?” “How much of ourselves are we prepared to reveal to others and ourselves?”

Xiif – Hunger

Choreographed by Thabo Rapoo

Okaile Lekarapa and Sonia Radebe in Xiif – Hunger by Thabo Rapoo

People finding themselves in a foreign and strange world; away from their home and yet never to see their loved ones; hoping that by rebelling someday they will meet them and go back home; longing and starving to see the loved ones that they might never see again.

Target Audience

The Company members are versatile performers, who are in demand for their artistic performances in theatres as well as performing in arenas and community centres. Their work excels equally at schools, conferences, corporate events and product promotions.

MIDM’s performances and festivals

(These are some of MIDM Company’s performances)

National

2000

· FNB VITA Dance Umbrella 2000, Johannesburg. Performed WoMooniCity, Naka and ten other new works choreographed by MID

· Arts Alive at Dance Factory in contemporary African evenings

· Morija Festival in Lesotho

2001

· FNB VITA Dance Umbrella 2001, Johannesburg. Performed Construction, Chair this Chairy World, sessaP EmiT and Motswa hole

· Performed in Shifting Rites at the Playhouse Theatre in Durban

· To celebrate the CDTTC 10^th Anniversary, took part in the Spring Day and November Celebratory Week

· Community Outreach in Chiawelo and Sebokeng

· Women’s Festival in Durban

· Arts Alive in Johannesburg

· Dance Indaba in Cape Town

2002

· FNB Dance Umbrella, Johannesburg: Premiere of Sonke Sisonke – Every Body, performances of Ek se … Hola! and other work by the Company

· Rhythm Colour at National Festival of the Arts in Grahamstown

· Performances for WSSD delegates at Dance Factory and Moyo in Melrose Arch

· Women’s Festival in Johannesburg

· Dance Indaba in Cape Town with VDT

2003

· FNB Dance Umbrella 2003, Johannesburg. Performed Concepts, Need to Want, Time Passes and other work by the company members.

· Performances for the 25^th Anniversary of MIDM Company at Wits Theatre and Dance Factory

· Young Choreographers @ the Dance Factory season

· Season at the State Theatre, Pretoria

2004

· FNB Dance Umbrella 2004, Johannesburg. Performed Screen Factor 8 and Kgotla

· New Dance festival 2004, Johannesburg. Performed Virtually Blond.

2005

· FNB Dance Umbrella 2005, Johannesburg. Performed Concept.

· Season at Dance Factory, Johannesburg. Performed Virtually Blond for schools.

· Jomba festival 2005, in Durban. Performed Virtually Blond and Once in our life, the journey begins.

· Arts Alive opening 2005, Johannesburg. Performed Sophiatown.

· Season at Dance Factory, Johannesburg. Performed Tranceformations for schools.

2006

· FNB Dance Umbrella 2005, Johannesburg. Performed Virtually Blond and Journey.

· Season at Dance Factory, Johannesburg. Performed Blankets of Shame.

· Season at the Tesson Theatre, Johannesburg. Performed eMandulo, Catching the Bird and Flesh.

· Apartheid museum performance, June 16^th. Performed Rhythm Colour.

· National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. Performed Blankets of Shame and Catching the Bird.

· New Dance festival 2006, Johannesburg. Performed Rhythm Colour.

· MIDM Junior Company performed Sophiatown at Mosadi wa Konokono Awards.

· Mpumalanga Schools Festival in Secunda

2007

· Oude Libertas Festival in Cape Town, collaboration with Jazzart. Performed eMandulo.

· FNB Dance Umbrella 2007, Johannesburg. Performed Blankets of Shame, XiiF – Hunger and Flesh.

· Cape Town Festival 2007. Performed Blankets of Shame.

· Blankets of Shame performances in Grahamstown – Rhodes University and BB Zendani Hall.

· Performance for Gauteng Dance Manyano – Dance in a Lake and MIDM performs extract from Flesh.

· Performances and workshops at PACOFS in Bloemfontein.

· Performance of Blankets of Shame at University of Johannesburg Arts Centre,

Alexsan Kopano -Alexandra, Mphatlalatsane - Sebokeng, Rabasotho Hall - Thembisa, Kagiso Hall - Kagiso, Protea South Community Hall – Protea.

· Teach workshops, coordinate and facilitate for Gauteng Carnival – Pale Ya Rona.

· Arts Alive Joint performance with SABT and BTA, MIDM performs Flesh.

2008

· The Knysna Play house in Eastern Cape. Performed Flesh and Mzansi Africa Delight.

· FNB Dance Umbrella 2008, Johannesburg. Performed Hanano, duet in Blankets of Shame and Ek se… Hola.

· Ukukhula Komdanso Festival, University of KZN, Durban, performed Flesh, BOS (duet) and Ek se…Hola.

· Arts Alive Festival 2008, Dance Factory. Collaboration with BTA and SABT, performed Xiif – Hunger

· MIDM 30^th Anniversary season at the Wits Theatre, Performed Threads and Ek se…Hola.

· Mogale City community Arts Festival performed Flesh.

2009

· United Cultural Development Conference hosted by Cultural Development Trust (CDT), performed extract from Flesh

International

2000

· SA National Day for the SA High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and at other venues in KL.

· Company gave performances and ran workshops at International Children’s Festivals in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg).

· Company formed the core of the Matlotlo MID Company which represented South Africa at EXPO 2000 in Hanover, Germany.

2001

· Invited to perform and do collaborative work at Caritas Gala in Zurich

· Participated in 18^th Dance Week Festival of Contemporary Dance in Zagreb, Croatia

· Company performed at Souk Ukaz in Amman, Jordan

2002

· Prix Courage Award ceremony in Zurich

· North American tour with educational workshops and performances in Albuquerque, Vancouver, Banff, Calgary and Ottawa.

2003

· Muzi Shili and Greg Maqoma spent 3 weeks in a workshop process with Adzido Pan African Dance Ensemble in London

2004

· Participated in the Harare International Festival of the Arts

· Invited to perform at the Kennedy Center to celebrate 10 years of Democracy

· Kuopio Dance Festival Finland – numerous performances at all venues

2005

· Maitisong Festival in Gabarone Botswana.

· Dance performance in St Polten, Austria, numerous performances at all venues.

· Dance performances in Luxembourg/ Bolzano, numerous performances at all venues.

· Dance performances in Sweden, numerous performances at all venues.

2007

· Dance performances in Sweden, numerous performances at different cities and in different venues.

Conferences, Diplomatic and Corporate Functions

2000 Urban Futures Conference, Johannesburg, Gauteng;

Technikon SA (Public Management & Development) 2^ND Biennial Exploration Conference - Gold Reef City; Nedcor dinner for Pres. Mbeki’s advisor, Wiseman Nkulu; Billiton Open Day

2001

· Technikon SA at Gold Reef City

· Netherlands Embassy Open Day

· DACST conference in PE

· SANEC dinner

2004

· Multichoice at Technikon SA in Gold Reef City.

2006

· Business Touring Exhibition

· Opening of the Origins Centre Wits University

· Standard Bank values

· SAMRO logo launch

· Wesbank conference

2007

· GenGame for Urban Brew Production Company

· MTN launch – Lindiwe and Sonia

· Cell C production – National tour

· Humanity Team Conference

· National Empowerment Fund Launch at Constitutional Hill.

· AWCA Function in Illovo

· End of the year function for Living Link

· Soccerex 07

2008

· Eskom Managers Award ceremony

· Europassistance Award ceremony

· Africa Day celebration

· CIPRO ISO 9001 Certificate ceremony

· Premier’s Service Excellent Awards

· Gauteng Tourism Authority/Miss World/Host City

· Soccerex 08

Dance and Choreographic Awards

Awards & Achievements

The success of Moving into Dance Mophatong has been acknowledged through more than thirty National and International Awards.

Local Awards

FNB VITA Special Awards

1997: Sylvia Magogo Glasser and MIDM were awarded the FNB VITA Special Achievement Award: "For developing a uniquely South African voice in contemporary choreography and dance, acknowledged both here and abroad. With your distinctive style, your ongoing education and outreach programmes have since 1978 made dance accessible to communities throughout South Africa."

2000: Sylvia Magogo Glasser Special Award for being one of South Africa's national treasures and foremost pioneers.

FNB VITA Choreographer of the Year/Best Choreographer Award

1995: Sylvia Glasser - Stone Cast Ritual

1996: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe - Hanano Blessing of the Earth

1999: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe - Phokwane

2001: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe - Barena

2002: Gregory Maqoma - Southern Comfort

FNB VITA Young Choreographers Grants/ Phillip Stein FNB Young Choreographer's Grant

1994: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe

1997: Gregory Vuyani Maqoma

1997: Vincent Mantsoe

2002: Themba Nkabinde

2005: Portia Mashigo

2007: Thabo Rapoo and Constance Kau

FNB VITA Most Outstanding Performance by a Male/Female Dancer

1999 & 2001: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe

2002: Gregory Maqoma

FNB Vita Pick of the Fringe/Stepping Stones Awards

1992: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe - African Soul

1993: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe - Gula

1995: Zakhele Nkosi - Spiritual Tour Experience

Gregory Vuyani Maqoma - Here, There and Where

1996: Gregory Vuyani Maqoma - Heaven and Earth

2001: Muzi Shili - Me and My Partner

2002: Lucky Ratlhagane – Rhythm in Us

FNB VITA Most Promising Male/Female Dancer Award

1992: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe

1994: Portia Mashigo

1998: Thabiso Lekuba

1998: Shanell Winlock

2000: Stephen Phele and Constance Kau

2003: Thabo Rapoo and Khabo Qubeka

Gauteng MEC Award for Best Choreography in a Contemporary Style

2001: Vincent Mantsoe

2002: Gregory Maqoma

2007: Gregory Vuyani Maqoma - Beautiful me

Gauteng MEC Award for Most Promising Male/Female Dancer in Contemporary Style

2007: Itumeleng Hlapane - Xiif - Hunger

Gauteng MEC Award for Most Outstanding Male/Female Dancer in Contemporary Style

2002: Gregory Maqoma and Constance Kau

2007: Muzi Shili

2007: Sonia Radebe - Blankets of Shame and Xiif - Hunger

2008: Luyanda Sidiya - Blankets of Shame, Xiif - Hunger and Flesh

Gauteng MEC Award for Most Outstanding Presentation of an Original of Contemporary Dance Work

2007: Gregory Maqoma - Beautiful Me

Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance

1995: Vincent Mantsoe

2002: Gregory Maqoma

2004: Portia Mashigo

2008: Thabo Rapoo

Tunkie Award for Leadership in Dance

2003: David April

2005: Sylvia Glasser

Arts and Culture Trust Awards

2004: Sylvia Glasser - Lifetime Achievement Award

2008: MIDM - Cultural Development Project

International awards

1995: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe- Gula Matari - First Prize 1st Contemporary African Dance Competition, Angola.

1996: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe - Gula Matari Vth Rencontres Choreographiques Internationales de Seine St. Denis, France. Vincent Mantsoe awarded an Achievement Award by the TASA Corporate

1998: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe - Hanano Blessing of the Earth VIth Rencontres Choreographiques Internationales de Seine St. Denis, France

1999: The Prix decouverterfi-spectacle vivant from rfi Paris

Applause from critics

“…In years of watching dance from Amsterdam to New York, to Tokyo and South Africa nothing like Blankets of Shame has left quite the impact on me and the person I attended.”

Charlene Smith, Grocotts Mail June 30 2006.

“It has the scale, complexity and performative norms to justify a large stage and a large audience”. Heather Mackie, The Weekender, May 27-28 2006

“Glasser’s choreography has been enriched through collaboration and the dancers are strong and dramatic, the work is powerful but deeply lyrical. As has been her focus for some time, she brings out issues such as women abuse through dance and this is handled skillfully”.

Tammy Ballantyne - Business Day 28^th October 2008.

“A new cultural narrative, offering unlimited opportunities of melding poetry, music and dance was created. Artistically appealing, courageously executed, even traditionally non-theatre audiences were left in awe of the possibilities available to artists in the country to create new work which stretches the traditional boundaries between dance poetry and music. It was history in the making”. Edward Tsumele, The Sowetan Time Out, 31^st October 2008

“Moving into dance Mophatong has stayed true to its vision of developing a South African dance vocabulary that speaks to all of us. That the company has not only survived but grown over the past 30 years, is tribute to the determination and dedication of the company, its founder Sylvia Glasser, its resident choreographers and its management headed by director David April. Congratulations! (Nicola Danby – 2008 MIDM Anniversary Booklet).

Highlights

1978 Moving into Dance Company was founded by Sylvia Glasser.

1980 First public performance of MID non-racial company at Wits University

1988 First dance performance at Johannesburg Art Gallery

1994 Performance of Moving into Dance Company at the inauguration of President Mandela on 10th May.

1995 Vincent Mantsoe and the Company performed Gula Matari in Luanda (Angola) at the 1st Contemporary African Dance Competition.

1996 Performed for Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands on her State visit to South Africa.

1998 20^th anniversary season at Wits Theatre

2000 Represent SA at Expo 2000 Germany

2003 25^th anniversary season at Wits Theatre

2004 Perform Sylver Synergy at main Festival NAF Grahamstown

Perform at Kennedy Center with Hugh Masekela as part of SA 10^th Anniversary celebrations

2006 Perform Tranceformations at opening of Origins Centre for President Mbeki

2008 30^th anniversary season at Wits Theatre

Thabo Rapoo performed his solo work for the Indonesian president

2009 Invited to perform at Dance Umbrella Gala

About our outreach programme

Moving into Dance Mophatong and its educational programmes are in the business of:

· Flexing minds, liberating bodies and fine tuning souls.

· Changing the way teachers teach in schools.

· Creating cutting-edge choreographers.

By using dance as a tool for education and training for underprivileged youth and a means of providing job opportunities for trained dancers, teachers and choreographers, MIDM has broken the cycle of poverty for hundreds of people and created a range of possibilities for their future.

While recognizing and working to ameliorate the socio-economic problems

that South Africa is still experiencing, MIDM’s work also celebrates the vitality, energy, resilience and talent that is evidenced in our communities.

Batsogile Primary School 2004

The organization runs a Dance Training Course and an Outreach Programme which incorporates Edudance, a methodology in which dance is used to teach academic subjects.

Comments:

“I think it’s a good thing that there is Blankets of Shame to teach young people about life”. (Zodwa Mthembu - Madiba Comprehensive H. S., 8.5.07)

“To help people because some people carry their pain around and end up killing themselves, which is not right. This show will make a difference”. (Zimasa Bikitsha – Tersia King Academy)

“The performance was very good and impressive”. (Nyali Phikolomzi – Masiqhakaze Secondary School 30.7.07)

FET outreach programme at Isiseko Primary School 2007

Schools, Performances, Lecture-Demonstrations

These are some of the schools MIDM has taught at and performed at:-

2000 Hillcrest Primary; Foundation School; Kings mead School

2001 Holy Rosary Convent; Queens High School, St Stithians Arts Festival, St Mary’s Girls School, Highveld, North West and Mpumalanga Schools Festivals

2002 Alexandra high schools attended performances / workshops at Alexsan Kopano, St Stithians, Hillcrest, Kings mead College

2006 Mount Waldorf School

2007 Performance at St Stithians.

Blankets of Shame performance at St Peter Claver.

Blankets of Shame performance at Tersia King

Blankets of Shame performance at Azara High School,

Several CWCI performances at Constitutional Hill.

Performance in Rustenburg – Retief Primary School.

2008 Blankets of Shame performance at Craighall Primary School

Blankets of Shame performance in Orange Farm

Dance workshops for learners at King David Primary – Linksfield

Dance workshops for learners at the Alexandra Education Centre

Regular bi-weekly teaching at schools by Company including Isiseko Primary

School in White City, St Peter Claver in Pimville; Modiopo Primary School in

Thembisa; and Qhoweng Primary School in Sharpville

2009 Afrofusion and Contemporary dance workshops in Botswana - Maitisong

2006 onwards Open class quarterly performances at Dance Factory

About our touring performances

“Thanks for being part of the Festival - it was a pleasure working with you and your company”.

(Terry Fortune Arts Project Manager Cape Town Festival. 8 March, 2007)

“Danced with verve and energy to a superb musical score one is moved from outrage to sympathy in a heartbeat. I have seldom seen a love scene better realized given the bleak business that surrounds it”. (Francis Gerard, Project Coordinator of the Origins Centre Wits University, 29.3.07)

Thabo Sebatlelo teaching at Bakgomana Primary School 2004

“Thank you for a completely superb performance last Sunday afternoon in the Knysna Playhouse. Your brilliance transported the audience to a wondrous world of physical and emotional prowess, resulting in a truly spiritual celebrated of humanity”. (Sue and Stephen Gurney, audience members, Knysna Playhouse Theatre).

Leadership training, empowerment and job creation

— MIDM has developed choreographers and performers, as well as skilled teachers who are invited to perform, choreograph, teach, and present papers throughout Africa, Europe and the U.S.A.

— We are trendsetters in choreography and a dance technique called, Afrofusion - an integration of African movement, ritual and music with Western contemporary dance forms has become the unique signature of the Company.

About our collaborative projects

I worked with both the learners and the professional company at MIDM. It was a wonderful experience to work with them all. The learners showed curiosity and energy and I found them full of joy and passion for their dance. In working with the company I used improvisation as one method and was impressed by the way they undertook the tasks given. They showed a deep understanding of movement and worked with sincerity, honesty and sensibility. Annika Notér Hooshidar - Senior lecturer, University College of Dance, Sweden

Muzi Shili in Once in our life, the journey begins by Sbonakaliso Ndaba

“My experience of working at MIDM was great, and the staff, dancers and trainees really gave me a warm welcome. The best moment for me during the process was when everybody, including myself, was telling personal stories to each other and we realized how similar all of our stories actually were”. Once in our life, the journey begins – Sbonakaliso Ndaba from

Phenduka Dance Company in Durban.

2000

· Performed Talas at the State Theatre with Tribhangi Dance Theatre

2001

· Paola Beck Benefit Concert at the Wits Great Hall

· Performed in Nigeria for Dunhill Symphony of Fire with a large group of dancers under the auspices of Maqoma Dance Theatre.

· Created new work with Jazzart for Dance Indaba in Cape Town

2002

· Danceformation and Cementation with Vuyani Dance Theatre was performed for WSSD delegates and at the year end

· Rhythm Colour was performed with Vuyani Dance Theatre around South Africa

2002/3

· CityScapes directed by Jay Pather and in collaboration with Siwele Sonke, Tribanghi, SABT, Nritya Rupam, Our Hour Pantsula Company, Sibikwa.

2006

· Sbonakaliso Ndaba from Phenduka Dance Company choreographed a piece for MIDM Company.

· Jay Pather collaborationg with the MIDM FET students, Dance Umbrella Festival.

2007

· Oude Libertas Festival collaboration with Jazzart in Cape Town.

· ADT and MIDM performance at Museum Africa.

· SABT and BTA for Arts Alive.

· Trinity Entertainment for Gauteng Carnival.

· Swedish South Africa collaboration.

· MIDM with Lebo Mashile on Moving into Poetry.

· Sonia Radebe with Dance Factory on Macbeth by PJ Sabbagah.

· MIDM and Lovelife for the CWCI project of Blankets of Shame.

2008

· The Knysna Playhouse Theatre

· FNB Dance Umbrella Festival

· Lebo Mashile’s Book Launch

· SABT and BTA for Arts Alive

· Tribute to Anna Nell show

· Via Volcano, Taxido, PKDK, Hlabelela Ensemble, - Soccerex

· MIDM and NISAA for Blankets of Shame

2009

· United Cultural Development Conference hosted by Cultural Development Trust (CDT), performed extract from Flesh

“My inspiration comes from seeing MIDM’s dancers with all their personalities, different skills and their willingness to open up their hearts and souls”. Catching the Bird - Marie Brolin-Tani from Skånes Dansteater in Malmö, Sweden

Moving into Dance Company in Catching the Bird by Marie Brolin-Tani

Photographs by John Hogg and Suzy Bernstein

Contact:

Themba Nkabinde

Deputy Artistic Director/Company Manager

P O Box 711

Newtown

2113 South Africa

T: +27 11 838 2816

F: +27 11 838 2976

Mobile: 082 511 6762

Email: info@midance.co.za

Website: www.midance.co.za