Nomsa Manaka
Nomsa Manaka (1965-) is a dancer, performer and choreographer.
Also known as Nomsa Kupi Manaka
Contents
Biography
Born Nomsa Kupi in Orlando, Johannesburg, she was trained in classical ballet and became a teacher of dance at the Funda Centre, where she would go on to 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 (see above), 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/
"Dancing Out of Cancer Festival 2025: A Celebration of Life, Awareness, and the Power of Art", February 28, 2025[4]
https://www.nomsamanakafoundation.org/nmdf%20web/programs.html
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