Youth embrace movement, strength and sisterhood through dance
Youth in Alexandra embraced movement and self-expression at a powerful dance workshop
In celebration of Women’s Month, the Alex Theatre Company and Academy hosted a dance workshop at the Alex San Kopano Centre on August 23, inviting young women from Alexandra to explore self-expression, physical strength, and solidarity through movement.
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The workshop was facilitated by renowned dance artist Teresa Phuti Mojela, who guided participants through what she described as a ‘journey of movement, strength and sisterhood’.
The event formed part of the academy’s ongoing efforts to empower women in the arts and create safe spaces for creative expression. Ncebakazi Thintsila, audience developer and programme administrator, said the workshop was designed to help participants connect with their bodies and emotions in a meaningful way.
“She [Mojela] calls it a journey of movement, strength and sisterhood as we celebrate Women’s Month and women in the arts,” Thintsila explained. “It’s about empowering women through their physical presence. We attract attention with our bodies, but we also face harm through our bodies. So, the workshop is about empowering women with the strength of their physique.”
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Thintsila said dance allowed women to express what words often couldn’t. “Expression through movement can say more than speech. Through dance, you release what’s inside, whether it’s joy, pain, or healing. Just like a person who would sing. You can tell if they are sad through a song. Even with movement, you can tell that this is a happy movement or this is a sad movement, or this is a healing movement,” she added.
For many of the attendees, the workshop was more than a performance; it was a space for reflection and release. While some of the participants are used to dancing in front of crowds, the session offered a rare opportunity to focus inward and connect with others through shared experience.
Though this was the first workshop led by Mojela, Thintsila said the academy regularly hosted sessions that included lectures and creative activities. The workshop also highlighted the importance of arts education in Alexandra. As Women’s Month draws to a close, the workshop highlighted the power of movement, not just as a performance, but as a tool for connection and resilience among women.
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