Thabisa Dance Academy

About last week at Artscape backstage moments 💞

Our Juniors💞💞💞💯🔥👌🏾💃💃💃

Our choreographer and the teacher...💞💞💞💃💃💃🔥🔥🔥🏆🏆🏆

😍😍😍

THABISA SAGELA is a dynamic and profoundly motivated dancer, educator, choreographer, and the visionary force behind the Thabisa Dance Academy. With unwavering dedication, Thabisa imparts the gift of dance to children from diverse backgrounds, kindling in them the joy and power of movement. Her commitment stems from a personal journey shaped by limited opportunities during her formative years in the Western Cape. As a choreographer and educator, Thabisa's movements transcend mere steps, serving as a universal language that empowers and inspires, showcased on prestigious stages like Artscape and the Baxter Theatre.

Yet, Thabisa's role extends beyond dance floors and theaters. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Education (BED) Honours Degree with a specialization in Educational Psychology at the University of Cape Town, she is an embodiment of perseverance and ambition. Thabisa also holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the Two Ocean Graduate Institute (Togi) and received formal dance training at the University of Cape Town, majoring in Dance Teaching. Her comprehensive three-year dance education encompassed disciplines such as African dance, Contemporary dance, Body conditioning, and Choreographic studies, all seamlessly woven into her teaching methods.

Her influence extends within the academic sphere, reaching students at Queen's Park High and primary institutions—Zonnebloem Boys and St Agnes—where she imparts Creative Arts knowledge in the senior phase (grades 7-9) under the Western Cape Education Department. Notably, she has been recognized by the WCED as a Creative Arts Lead teacher, a testament to her commitment and expertise.

Thabisa's roots trace back to the Philippi township, a place marked by corrugated iron shacks and a myriad of socio-economic challenges. Despite these hurdles, she defied the odds, harnessing dance as her transformative tool. Thabisa emerged as the first in her family to matriculate, attend university, and travel abroad. Her remarkable journey led her on tours across Canada in 2008-2009 and to England and Scotland in 2012.

Yet, Thabisa remains grounded and invested in fostering the potential of future dancers. Through the Thabisa Dance Academy, she extends a guiding hand, sharing her narrative and expertise to nurture the next generation. Her dance school's impactful collaborations with the Cape Town City Ballet and the Western Province Dance Association, where she also holds an executive role, exemplify her commitment to dance's enduring legacy.

*_Still I Rise – Maya Angelou
“You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.”_

A blessed women's day to all our tenacious, powerful and caring women of TDA.💕💕💕🙏🙏🙏🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽💪💪💪💃💃💃💯

Our juniors and seniors will be performing at artscape school festival on the 23 of August. ,💃💃💃💯🤞🏽🙌🏽

Technical rehearsal done and dusted yesterday at Artscape Theatre

Against all odds show💃💃💃

TDA seniors are ready to showcase their talents🔥🔥🔥💃💃💃

What a day it was. Early in the morning TDA juniors did 2 dance classes, then we went to watch African Gumbo Fest afterwards.

Thank you Ms. Lisa Wilson for inviting us. The show was amazing 🙏🙏🙏💞💞💞💃💃💃

2nd term kicked off last week. Our juniors are really looking good 👌👌👌❣️❣️❣️💃💃💃

Fulfilling the purpose that we were given by our Creator🙌🏽

What a good way to start our dance program. 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽💯💫

We were blessed last Saturday, international teachers came to our space to do workshop with our kids.

Our juniors spent 3 hours learning musical theatre, contemporary dance and jazz dance 💕💕💕🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽. What a treat 💃💃💃👯👯👯

We thank Theo Ndindwa from ikapa dance company for organising that for us.

About yesterday, TDA juniors Watching Cape Town City Ballet at Artscape theatre performing Cinderella the ballet 💕💕💕🙌🏽

We are grateful to be invited to Cinderella performance. Thank you Cape Town City Ballet for offering tickets to TDA 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽❤️❤️❤️

It's a wrap.... 🙌💃🙏❤️

Thank you to all the participants 💃💃💃❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

Thank you Ricardo Dunjwa📸🙏🙏🙏

Yesterday we had about 64 children in the venue , what great show we had 💯🔥❤️👏👏👏

Meet Niqhame Solomon (13 years old)

"TDA means alot to me because it means i have a whole other family who supports me through dance. It is nice to know i have a group of young women who are going through the same dance journey as me and that we can support one another throughout our journey in dance"

Meet Zamantombo Simelane (12 years old )
"Dance is one of the activities that makes me relax. It is something I enjoy as I find it very fun and I get to be with other girls my age. It helps boost my confidence"

Meet Anga Sokanyile (9 years)

“I appreciate the dance lessons so much, they blow my mind out, calms me down and taught me discipline”.

I am Nina Layla Baartman
(12years)

Throughout my journey at TDA,dance has taught me that I can also express myself through dancing.Dance has also taught me to challenge myself and take risks.It has taught me to work in a team.

Meet Yakhanani Kolweni (12years )

"Why I enjoy dance so much is because it helps me find who I am and my personality . It helps me find the path of life ...."

Meet Zindonele (13years)

"Dance to me means, expressing my emotions. Dance helps me find my confidence💖"

We draw close to our dance showcase. We we would like to introduce one of our guest organisations. Founded by a friend of mine, Aphiwe Mpahleni🙏🙏🙏💞💞💞

11 December 2022
Venue: Delft rent office.
Entrance fee R50 at the door
It's going to be lit 🔥🔥🔥💃💃💃

About Moving Stories Theatre Organisation (187-198 NPO)
Moving Stories Theatre Organisation is an NGO based in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. It consists of black African youth residing in different townships of Western Cape. The organisation specialises in dance, music, poetry and design. We navigate spaces using a language that is close to our hearts that is spiritually inspired by " Our culture". The aim of the organisation is bring direction in our communities through Arts and Culture. This is our way of resurrecting the idea of Ubuntu.
When we have performance we design and make our own costume. We write our own narratives of the stories we share with people based on our own understandings as individuals. The storyline might be the same but the narratives and understanding differ from the performers based on their own backgrounds. We have found home in using African narrative, indigenous and endogenous dances as a foundation of our creation.

Meet TDA juniors,they are ready to showcase their talents.💃💃💃🙌🙌🙌❣️❣️❣️

Watch them at Black Box office in
Delft rent office
on the 11 December 2022
At 3pm

Another Guest Choreographer Olwethu Sotiya. TDA is blessed 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽💃💃💃❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥

It's going to be lit 🔥🔥🔥

Don't miss out 🙌

3
4
60 💃💃💃

We are so blessed to have Thimna Sitokisi as our guest choreographer, its going to be lit🔥🔥🔥💃💃💃

Don't miss our dance showcase

It' coming soon 💃💃💃
Details on the poster.

3
4
60

"Talent you have naturally, skills is developed by the hours and hours of perfecting your own"

It is that time again.....
Showcasing what we have been doing in those hours.

We are blessed to be joined by Igugu-lethu Arts and Leadership and Is'thatha Dance Project, Likwezi Dance Project and others to be confirmed....

We have not done this since 2019. We are excited to be able to do it this year, we are looking forward to your support 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽💃💃💃💞💞💞🌟🌟🌟

"Talent you have naturally, skills is developed by the hours and hours of perfecting your own"

It is that time again.....
Showcasing what we have been doing in those hours.

We are blessed to be joined by Igugu-lethu Arts and Leadership and Is'thatha Dance Project, Likwezi Dance Project and others to be confirmed....

A memorable show for TDA dancers, thanks to Jazzart dance theatre for making our day.

Yesterday TDA juniors got a chance to watch IKIGAI ballet show.

Thank you Cape Town City Ballet for offering tickets to the kids.

1st of many....

Congratulations TDA 🔥🔥🔥💃💃💃👏👏👏

You've done it again, you have put your hearts and souls into the dance. Well done 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

These are little pieces of our choreography piece title as 'As we travel...

After 2 years of not performing in Artscape School Festival, thanks to covid-19. TDA juniors was blessed to on the opening night of the Festival.

Theae little girls were on fire.

Tonight we are going to see the seniors. Telling their story through dance. 'As we travel...'

Delay post
TDA dancers. At the Star Theatre.

The founder, educator, choreographer of Thabisa Dance Academy is sharing her journey in dance.

"i hope others could be inspired"

God expects us to persevere until the right door opens to us.

This morning was a very emotional day for us..

Day 3 of DaCi conference 💞💞💞🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

You've done it again, you have put your hearts and souls into the dance. Well done 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Our final rehearsal before we go for stage rehearsal.

What a successful day. TDA students yet given another opportunity...




... ❤️❤️❤️💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽