Dance group uplifts community
Dancers of the Phinda-Mzala Entertainment Project were spotted in Heidelberg on February 3 during the opening of a new motor vehicle franchise.
David Mahlaba manages the group and said the dancers uses to perform on the streets of Duduza at intersections.
They started as a community-based dance group in 1996.
“The streets of South African townships have become home to many youngsters who have been imprisoned by drugs and crime. From a very young age, children bury themselves in this life, others as a way to escape family troubles while others are just succumbing to peer pressure.
“After analysing the situation, I decided to take it upon myself to try and save these youngsters by forming a pantsula and gumboot dance group,” David said.
The Phinda-Mzala dance group grew from a community-based project to an arts and culture project performing gumboot, pantsula and singing. Dancers are between the ages of 18 and 32 years.
“I like dance because it allows individuals to express themselves creatively, whether through movement, emotion, or storytelling. It provides a medium for self-expression that transcends language barriers,” David said.
It is these diverse expressions and theatre productions the group now use to spread health messages on issues like HIV/Aids, substance abuse, environmental issues, orphans and disability among others.
David mentioned that Phinda-Mzala is deeply aware of its social responsibility and that it consciously engages in supporting needy children and vulnerable youth who do not see any hope for the future.
The popularity of this dance group has grown and they now perform at theatre production shows in Johannesburg. The group is working on a one-hour show which will present gender-based-violence issues.
“Growing up as a dancer myself, it brings joy to my heart when I see the show that the group is working on. Seeing them on stage constantly reassures me that this is worth all the effort that we put in every day,” David said.
Another big project that the group is working on is a show that will be choreographed by a woman from Brazil.
“In pursuit of our vision for the future, the Phinda-Mzala Entertainment Project was recently registered as a non-profit organisation and we are looking forward to partnership with international groups who share the same objectives,” David concluded.
For more information on the group, contact David on 083 308 3952 or david@phindamzala.org
