Sylvia Glasser

Sylvia Glasser (1940-) Choreographer.

Biography

The daughter of a European refugee, Glasser was born in Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg) in 1940.

When Glasser retired she moved to Australia circa 2015.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

At the forefront of South African modern dance from the late 1970s onwards, Glasser’s explorations of South African rituals, music and dance together with her training in Western modern dance led her to develop a distinct style she calls Afrofusion, which reflects her philosophy of integrity and respectful cultural sensitivity and that blends elements from South African culture with various choreographic structures underpinning Western modern dance.

She founded the dance company Moving into Dance in 1978 from the garage at her home in Victory Park – long before it was fashionable or even legal to host black and white dancers on the same stage – Glasser unequivocally changed the nature of dance in South Africa.

Among other approaches to dance, she developed Edudance, which teaches the school curriculum using physical movement to explain theoretical principles.

Productions/works as choreographer include Call Me Woman (Market Theatre, 1979), Passage of Rites (Moving into Dance).

Awards

Glasser’s Tranceformations nominated for AA Vita Choreography Award in 1992. Glasser won FNB VITA 1994 Choreographer of the Year Award for Stone Cast Ritual. Glasser received the 1996 FNB Vita Special Achievement Award for her development of a unique, dynamic South African contemporary choreographic practice and dance style and for her company’s ongoing dance education and outreach programs in the communities. She was honored as South African “National Living Human Treasure and Foremost Pioneer” in 2000; garnered the Tunkie Award in 2005 and an Arts and Culture Trust Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004; and earned the National Tribute to Women in the Arts and Culture Sector in 2010 for her contributions to South African modern dance and to society’s fabric. Sylvia Glasser was named one of the Top 100 South Africans in the Star Newspaper in December 2008. Glasser won the Naledi Award for Best Choreographer in 2026.

Glasser was knighted by King Wilhem-Alexander of the Royal Netherlands in the Order of Oranje-Nassau for her contribution to democracy (during and after apartheid), cultural cooperation between South Africa and the Netherlands, education and the arts (especially their commitment to the training of young dancers of all races) in 2014, and received The Order of Ikhamanga: Silver from the Presidency for her excellence in the field of dance in 2016.