Dada Masilo Explained

Dada Masilo
Birth Place:	Soweto, South Africa
Nationality:	South African
Field:	Dance
Awards:	^[1]

Dada Masilo is a South African dancer and choreographer, known for her unique and innovative interpretations of classical ballets.^[2] Trained in classical ballet and contemporary dance, Masilo fuses these techniques with African dance steps to create her high-speed style.^[2] She was born and raised in the Johannesburg township of Soweto. Although she is interested more in the personal challenge of choreography than political statements, her pieces often address taboos such as homosexuality and race relations.^[2]

Career

Education

Masilo studied at Braamfonteins National School for the Arts, 2002. Dada Masilo caught the eyes of Suzette Le Sueur, back then the Director of Dance factory school, and invited her to train professionally. Since then, Sueur became Masilo's mentor.^[3]

Performances

• Infecting the City 2012, Cape Town

• Dancing with Dada, in collaboration with William Kentridge^[4]
• Swasey Chapel at Denison University, 3 February 2012^[5]
• The Bitter End of Rosemary, Düsseldorf, Germany^[6]
• Jazzart Dance Theatre, Cape Town, 2003^[6]
• London School of Contemporary Dance, 2004^[6]
• One of Masilo's notable scene partners is South African contemporary dancer Kyle Heinz Rossouw

Notable works

Classical ballets

• Swan Lake
• Romeo and Juliet
• Carmen^[6]
• Death and the Maiden
• Giselle

Original works

• The Bitter End of Rosemary, based on Ophelia^[6]
• Dancing with Dada
• The Sacrifice based on Pina Bausch's Rite of Spring

External links

• Nedbank - Arts Life Project Details - Arts Affinities

Notes and References

1. Web site: Infecting the City 2012 . 10 April 2012.
2. Web site: Robin . Curnow . . 2 November 2010 . Dada Masilo: South African dancer who breaks the rules - CNN . 10 April 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120528213747/http://articles.cnn.com/2010-11-02/world/south.africa.dada.masilo_1_ballet-moves-classical-ballet-international-dance-world?_s=PM%3AWORLD . 28 May 2012 .
3. News: Dada Masilo, South Africa's Star Choreographer. Vernon. Diana. Culture Trip. 2017-10-27.
4. Web site: Donna . Bryson . . 17 September 2011 . Artist William Kentridge on stage in South Africa - Washington Times . 10 April 2012.
5. Web site: The Vail Series [Denison University]» Blog Archive » DADA MASILO |date=3 February 2012 |location=Swasey Chapel, Denison University, Granville, Ohio, USA |accessdate=10 April 2012].
6. Web site: Sam . Menthe . . 16 August 2011 . Profile: Dada Masilo - Queen of Dance | the Afropolitan. 10 April 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111108160437/http://afropolitan.co.za/profiles/people/223-profile-dada-masilo-queen-of-dance . 8 November 2011 .