Sbonakaliso Ndaba’s love for dancing has motivated her to carve out a successful career. By Fundiswa Nkwanyana
I love dancing so much that by the age of eight I was already performing at weddings and birthday parties in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Because of this, I became known as the dancing entertainer in my township. Today, I’m a choreographer, dance teacher and founder of the Indoni Dance, Arts and Leadership Academy.
My desire to hone my skill motivated me to go for training. At 17, I joined the Phenduka Dance Theatre in Durban. This opened up an opportunity for me to be a singer, dancer and actress in the iconic movie Sarafina. I spent two years on set and have fond memories of this. I started my professional training at Jazzart Dance Theatre in Cape Town in 1991, even though I had been dancing for a long time.
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After 10 years of training and teaching in Cape Town, I returned to KZN to revive the Phenduka Dance Theatre. I am privileged to work with young adults who dropped out of school and those who could not afford to study further. I’m glad that I got an opportunity to give back to my community.
I’m looking forward to performing a dance piece called Flying Saucers at the upcoming Littlegig festival. This will showcase my high level of commitment, home-brewed dance techniques and a combination of contemporary and African dance moves. The performance will also include a storytelling element that will call on unity.
To be a successful dancer, you need to believe in yourself. You must then dedicate your life to mastering dance skills because it’s not easy. Loving what you do it also important.
Catch Sbonakaliso Ndaba at the Littlegig festival on 17 and 18 February in Cape Town.
