Traditional rhythms for youth

DANCE pioneer Nomsa Manaka says her life-long dream is to teach the youth of Mzansi the importance of indigenous dances and rhythms of Southern Africa.

“My greatest dream, if anything, is to see our children learning more about who we are and where we come from through our indigenous dances, and to make sure that all traditional dances and rhythms of South Africa are treated with, and given, the respect and dignity they deserve,” says the award-winning choreographer.

The legendary dancer, choreographer and actress was first introduced to African dance styles during the ’80s, fusing the different dances from other African countries with South Africa’s contemporary township-pantsula dance styles, making her a household name.

With the passion to impart her skills to aspiring dancers, Manaka established a dance studio in Kliptown at Walter Sisulu Square.

The Nomsa Manaka Dance Studio was opened in 2015, where children, youth and adults could learn different types of dances.

The iconic studio was forced to shut down and become non-operational following a vandalising incident that took place in December last year.

The desperate pleas from parents of children who were part of the dance studio, aspiring dancers and the general public encouraged Manaka to want to reopen the dance studio again.

Manaka shares that she recently managed to secure a space for the studio at the iconic Funda Art Centre in Diepkloof, Soweto, the very place where her artistic roots were nurtured and her journey as a dancer began.

Despite her ongoing battle with cancer, Manaka is determined to ensure that the classes resume on October 2.