THEMBA MBULI

ABOUT THEMBA MBULI

2016 Standard Bank Young Artist Award Recipient, Themba Mbuli received his formal training at Moving into Dance Mophatong (MIDM) in 2007. He joined Inzalo Dance Theatre Company as a trainee performer under Moeketsi Koena in 2008. In 2009, he was accepted back at MIDM As a dancer, teacher and choreographer. Mbuli’s first ensemble creation Dark City won the Pick of the Fringe award at the FNB Dance Umbrella Festival in 2010.

In 2011 Mbuli joined Theatre Talipot Company in Reunion Island as a principle dancer. Mbuli began his solo career in 2012 with Dark Cell, performing nationally including the National Arts Festival in 2014, and internationally in Sweden, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Uganda, Mozambique, Namibia, the Netherlands and the UK. Other recent works include Trapped, ASHED Dark Cells ( a trio adaptation of his solo work ), SOLD, Autho(r)ise, Memory Box and The BOAT. He is a co-founder of a Johannesburg based arts company Broken Borders Arts Project together with Fana Tshabalala and Thulani Chauke. He is also a co-founder, Producer and Associate Artistic Director for Unmute Dance Theatre, officially formed in 2014 in Cape Town.

Mbuli is also an independent choreographer, performer and dramaturge for collaborative creations. He is an initiator of Africa's premier inclusive arts festival called Unmute ArtsAbility Festival that he has been co-curating in Cape Town since 2014.