The body is a site of memory. Dance, through the inherent knowledge and language of the body in motion, becomes a medium of recollection, recitation and instruction. It is in the process of thinking through dance that we can begin to uncover, translate and communicate our stories and personal histories.

Led by choreographer, performer and teacher, Teresa Phuti Mojela in collaboration with SO | The Academy for the Less Good Idea, AND 5, 6, 7, 8 is an exploratory and experimental dance mentorship programme.

Comprising six young women dancers from a range of dance disciplines, the eight-week intensive programme includes coaching across key aspects of professional dance practice such as technical training, choreographic skills, administration, marketing and performance. The mentorship was initiated in late 2020, but had to be put on hold four weeks into the process due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. The second half of the mentorship resumed in March 2022 and focused on the creation and rehearsal of the dance work, NNE.

For Mojela, the programme was an opportunity to pursue an explorative and embodied approach to mentorship, relying on the activity of dance to guide the mentees through their understanding of themselves and the industry in which they operate. By drawing on the ritual of Koma (initiation), Mojela facilitated a series of performative explorations into the dynamic and complex notions of identity, spirituality and belonging.

Through the literal and conceptual process of initiating oneself through dance – identifying and holding the singular moments, and harnessing the generative qualities of the collective choreographic – the body becomes both an archive of innumerable stories and a means of better locating oneself in the world as a professional, independent dancer.

CREDITS:

Teresa Phuti Mojela is a performer, choreographer, teacher, mentor and aspirant director and producer who was born and raised in Ivory Park and Limpopo Province.

A founder and director of Phuti Pedi Productions and Children Saturday Dance Classes, she started her acting and dancing career in 1999 with a community group called Township Mirror Theatre Group based in Tembisa under the leadership of the late Oupa “China” Malatjie. She then studied drama at Paul Rapetsoa’s Institute of Dramatic Arts before enrolling at Inzalo Dance Theatre, followed by Tribhangi Dance Theatre.

From 2010 – 2014 she was a senior dance company member at Vuyani Dance Company under the leadership of Gregory Maqoma and was a dance teacher for Outreach Children’s program and Vuyani Saturday Academy. In 2015, she joined Moving Into Dance, where she was a teacher and a dancer.

Over the years, Mojela has performed in countless productions and festivals both locally and internationally. Experimental and interdisciplinary collaboration is central to her practice. She has worked with choreographers, directors, artists and writers including William Kentridge, Themba Mbuli, James Ngcobo, Leila Henriques, Shanell Winlock, Sello Pesa, Napo Masheane, Bronwyn Lace, Billy Langa, Ntshieng Mokgoro, Phala O.Phala, Jerry Mofokeng, Robyn Orlin, Jayspree Moopen, Margaret Mokoka, Mark Hawkins, Moeketsi Koena, Alfred Hinkel, Sylvia “Magogo” Glasser, Florent Mahoukou, Javier Velazquez Cabrero and Eric Trufas.

The AND 5, 6, 7, 8 mentees were Dipuo Banda, Zaza Cala, Phuti Chokwe, Princess Mbokazi, Nonjabulo Ndlovu and Tidimalo Phelephe.

Athena Mazarakis is the Momenteur for the SO Academy.

PHOTOGRAPHER | Zivanai Matangi