Dance research project: Gregory Maqoma
Gregory Vuyani Maqoma was born in Soweto, October 16th 1973,
and became interested in dance as a means to escape the political
tensions growing up in his place of birth. Maqoma has always used
movement to escape from, reflect and cope with political and social
tensions and debates. Mr. Maqoma was 9 or 10 when he was first
exposed to traditional dance. In the town of Soweto, where he
quarantined, he lived near dormitories for migrant workers who work
in factories and mines. “It wasn’t until later that I realized that
sports were a way for them to survive, a way to deal with their
displacement, a way to stay connected to their homeland and the
people they left behind.” These movements, that’s what got him
involved told himself that he wanted to do it, that he wanted to use
dance as a tool to break stereotypes and get people moved by the
movement of the body. Exchange ideas, exchange dreams,
exchange through stories through movement. The apartheid regime
in which he lived was a catalyst for new, interesting and unique
ideas. He remembers watching Michael Jackson on TV when he was
much younger. "Everything else on TV portrays black people as
inferior," he said, "but this guy is black like me and brings tears to
people of all races. I said to myself, 'This is what I want dance. "
At 17, Mr. Maqoma performed with an informal youth group called
the Joy Dancers. He found an advertisement in the newspaper
educating impoverished youth, announcing an audition for the
pioneering organization "moving into dance" He started formal
dance training in Europe in 1990 and in 1997 won a scholarship to a
dance studio at the Vienna Dance Network, which all opened up new
possibilities.
"He brought classical African dance into all that is contemporary”
said Jay Pather, Associate Professor and Curator at the University of
Cape Town. Mr Maqoma has long been a leading figure in modern
dance. In 1999, after receiving a scholarship from the Belgian
Performing Arts Research and Training School (PARTS), he founded
Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT). He is also known for his artistic
collaborations, including with British choreographer Akram Khan and
Gregory Vuyani Maqoma was born in Soweto, October 16th 1973,
and became interested in dance as a means to escape the political
tensions growing up in his place of birth. Maqoma has always used
movement to escape from, reflect and cope with political and social
tensions and debates. Mr. Maqoma was 9 or 10 when he was first
exposed to traditional dance. In the town of Soweto, where he
quarantined, he lived near dormitories for migrant workers who work
in factories and mines. “It wasn’t until later that I realized that
sports were a way for them to survive, a way to deal with their
displacement, a way to stay connected to their homeland and the
people they left behind.” These movements, that’s what got him
involved told himself that he wanted to do it, that he wanted to use
dance as a tool to break stereotypes and get people moved by the
movement of the body. Exchange ideas, exchange dreams,
exchange through stories through movement. The apartheid regime
in which he lived was a catalyst for new, interesting and unique
ideas. He remembers watching Michael Jackson on TV when he was
much younger. "Everything else on TV portrays black people as
inferior," he said, "but this guy is black like me and brings tears to
people of all races. I said to myself, 'This is what I want dance. "
At 17, Mr. Maqoma performed with an informal youth group called
the Joy Dancers. He found an advertisement in the newspaper
educating impoverished youth, announcing an audition for the
pioneering organization "moving into dance" He started formal
dance training in Europe in 1990 and in 1997 won a scholarship to a
dance studio at the Vienna Dance Network, which all opened up new
possibilities.
"He brought classical African dance into all that is contemporary”
said Jay Pather, Associate Professor and Curator at the University of
Cape Town. Mr Maqoma has long been a leading figure in modern
dance. In 1999, after receiving a scholarship from the Belgian
Performing Arts Research and Training School (PARTS), he founded
Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT). He is also known for his artistic
collaborations, including with British choreographer Akram Khan and
