Nomsa Manaka
Nomsa Manaka (1965-) is a dancer, performer and choreographer.
Also known as Nomsa Kupi Manaka
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Contents
Biography
Born Nomsa Kupi in Orlando, Johannesburg, she was trained in classical ballet and went on to teach dance at the Funda Centre where she would found the Nomsa Manaka Dance Studio[1] and the Nomsa Manaka Foundation[2]
She is a two time cancer survivor and the creator of the annual Dancing Out of Cancer[3] initiative.
Nomsa was married to Matsemela Manaka (1955-1998) and to Bonian. She had three children, daughters Katlego and Naledi, and a son, Sibongiseni.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Besides her organizational contributions, she has been influential as a practitioner, her productions including:
As dancer:
1997: Bound by Love, Black Age,
As choreographer:
1987: Toro: The African Dream
1988: Sego (The African Calabash)
1992: Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman
1993: Daughters of Nebo: An African Opera (billed as Nomsa Kupi Manaka)
1999: Mandla Langa's Milestones (musical).
As producer/director:
2004 Goree at the Barney Simon Theatre, Market Theatre, as a tribute to her late husband.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomsa_Manaka
National Arts Festival programmes, 1992 and 1999.
Sunday Independent, 28 March 2004.
https://iol.co.za/the-star/news/2024-03-11-i-dont-need-drugs-to-be-high-dance-is-my-opium/
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