Johaar Mosaval
Johaar Mosaval (1928 -) [1]. Ballet dancer from Cape Town.
Contents
Biography
Johaar Mosaval was born in District Six in Cape Town on 8 January 1928 and was one of nine children in his family. Born into a religious community that rejected ballet, and far too short to be a principal dancer, Mosaval nonetheless became the first Muslim principal dancer of colour to join The Royal Ballet company in England.
Training
Dulcie Howes, a prominent figure in the South African dance arena, saw him in a primary school pantomime and organised for him to attend the UCT Ballet School from 1947 to 1949. This was unheard of at that time and came under much criticism and opposition from white people. Johaar was also under pressure from his conservative Muslim family because dance was considered un-Islamic. It was also not an easy scenario for Mosaval to be the only person of colour in the institution and in class
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Performed in the pantomime Dick Whittington in the Cape Town City Hall in 1946.
In 1960, returned to South Africa to dance in the new ballet, The Pink Lemonade.
In 1962, he danced the principal role in the ballet The Square by Stanley Glasser. It was originally performed in 1962 by the Eoan Group, and was the first full length indigenous jazz ballet by a local composer for a South African ballet group.
He made history in 1976 by being the first black dancer to perform at the Nico Malan Theatre.
Awards, etc.
Dancer’s Teaching Diploma at the Royal Opera House (1975)
Winston Churchill Award (1975)
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal for his services to ballet in the United Kingdom (1977)
Western Cape Arts, Culture, and Heritage Award in (1999)
Western Cape Province – Premier’s Commendation Certificate (2003)
Cape Tercentenary Foundation – Molteno Gold Medal in (2005)
City of Cape Town – Civic Honours Award
The Arts and Culture Trust – Lifetime Achievement award for Dance (2016)
From District Six to Covent Garden, the life and achievements of ballet legend Johaar Mosaval were celebrated at the Suidoosterfees in Cape Town in honour of his 90th birthday which was celebrated in January 2018.
Sources
Report by Steyn du Toit, Business Day, 4 May 2018.
https://www.capetownmuseum.org.za/they-built-this-city/johaar-mosaval
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