Gregory Maqoma's Career in Choreography
GREGORY MAQOMA
Gregory Maqoma was born in Soweto in 1973
There was a lot of political unrest in Soweto at this time. To escape the tension of the uprisings,
Maqoma developed an interest in dance
His parents wanted him to become a soccer star or a doctor.
TRAINING
Maqoma began training in 1990
He went on to receive a scholarship to Belgium's Performing Arts Research and Training School
CAREER
His career as a choreographer was established while he was training in Belgium
He was commissioned as head choreographer for the World Summit of Arts & Culture as well as the FIFA World Cup Kick-off Concert, among other high-profile events
He approaches choreography in context of both his dancers and musicians, in order to achieve a marriage between text, music, and movement
VDT is a playground where ideas are thrashed out, processes discovered, and dreams realized.
Maqoma teaches as well as choreographs.
COLLAB
He first began collaborating with other artists whilst in Belgium as well
His collaboration repertoire includes Britain, Belgium, Congo
AWARDS
FNB Vita Choreographer of the Year
Standard Bank Young Artist award
Gauteng MEC award
Dance Manyano Choreographer of a Decade Dance award 2012 Standard Bank Ovation award
Tunkie award (South African who has improved the standard and visibility of dance in South Africa)
WORKS
Maqoma is seen as a South African dance embassador on an international scale
His work is accessible, and relevant, as well as didactic in its dealing with political and gender issues
It grows its performers as well as its audience
His contribution to dance is continuing due to the sustainability of VDT.
FOUR SEASONS
Created: 2010
Genre: Contemporary African Dance
Duration: 60 minutes
Performers: 8 dancers, 4 musicians (violin, lead guitar, bass guitar, percussion)
SYNOPSIS
"“Four Seasons is a dance performance depicting the destruction and deterioration of the human mind towards life, towards
Gregory Maqoma was born in Soweto in 1973
There was a lot of political unrest in Soweto at this time. To escape the tension of the uprisings,
Maqoma developed an interest in dance
His parents wanted him to become a soccer star or a doctor.
TRAINING
Maqoma began training in 1990
He went on to receive a scholarship to Belgium's Performing Arts Research and Training School
CAREER
His career as a choreographer was established while he was training in Belgium
He was commissioned as head choreographer for the World Summit of Arts & Culture as well as the FIFA World Cup Kick-off Concert, among other high-profile events
He approaches choreography in context of both his dancers and musicians, in order to achieve a marriage between text, music, and movement
VDT is a playground where ideas are thrashed out, processes discovered, and dreams realized.
Maqoma teaches as well as choreographs.
COLLAB
He first began collaborating with other artists whilst in Belgium as well
His collaboration repertoire includes Britain, Belgium, Congo
AWARDS
FNB Vita Choreographer of the Year
Standard Bank Young Artist award
Gauteng MEC award
Dance Manyano Choreographer of a Decade Dance award 2012 Standard Bank Ovation award
Tunkie award (South African who has improved the standard and visibility of dance in South Africa)
WORKS
Maqoma is seen as a South African dance embassador on an international scale
His work is accessible, and relevant, as well as didactic in its dealing with political and gender issues
It grows its performers as well as its audience
His contribution to dance is continuing due to the sustainability of VDT.
FOUR SEASONS
Created: 2010
Genre: Contemporary African Dance
Duration: 60 minutes
Performers: 8 dancers, 4 musicians (violin, lead guitar, bass guitar, percussion)
SYNOPSIS
"“Four Seasons is a dance performance depicting the destruction and deterioration of the human mind towards life, towards