Phenduka Dance Theatre

Founded named Phenduka in 1989 by Wouter Gildenhuys as a project for unemployed youths. The first training was done by Alfred Hinkel of Jazzart Dance Theatre in Cape Town, who acted as facilitator and teacher. It had a short life-span, running only until the following year (1990), but two students, Sbonakaliso Ndaba and Sifiso Kweyama continued their dance education under Hinkel in Cape Town.

At the end of 2000, Ndaba and Kweyama, with Jazzart colleague Ondine Bello, also originally from Durban, decided to return home to found a dance company. Gildenhuys agreed to the Phenduka name being used and the revived company was re-established in March 2001.

In the brief span since then, Ndaba, Kweyama and Bello have garnered critical acclaim and awards, with Ndaba winning the DaimlerChrysler Award for South African Choreography 2003.

Whilst there Sifiso Kweyama also choreographed a number of works: ‘Excuse Me!’ (for Ballet Theatre Afrikan), ‘Recognition - An Every woman’s Story’, ‘The Sound That Comes Back To You from The World’, ‘Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered’ (A collaboration between Durban’s dance companies: PHENDUKA Dance Theatre, Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company, Siwela Sonke, Flatfoot Dance Company and The Floating Outfit Project in 2001).

Other Pheduka shows include **, ** Traces (2006)

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