Trained since the age of twelve at Ballet Theatre Afrikan, and a founder member of its Youth Company and professional company, Magongwa has toured the length and breadth of South Africa as BTA's principal dancer. He has grasped every opportunity with both hands and risen to every challenge. His immense versatility has enabled him to adapt to diverse styles; for this he has been much in demand, guesting for and performing with Jazzart, South African Ballet Theatre, Cape Town City Ballet, Free Flight Dance Company, North West Dance Company, B Boys Hardcore Mentality, Tumbuka and Cape Youth Dance Company.
With his sense of adventure, he has been delighted when his dancing career has taken him traveling to Holland, Switzerland, Austria, United States of America, Finland, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Swaziland.
He has represented South Africa in the most prestigious international ballet competitions. His most recent success was achieving finalist at the Helsinki International Ballet competition during 2005, one of the top 15 of the world's finest dancers.
Magongwa's various nominations as a dancer include: A nomination for FNB Dance Umbrella awards for 2002 in the category Most Outstanding Male Dancer in a Contemporary Style; A nomination from the Klein Karroo Nationale Kunstefees for his contribution to dance and performance theatre (2003); Named as "Best newcomer: male dancer" by Thys Odendaal, Beeld Newspaper for his performances in the productions of " Dance @The Factory" and "Sollopa" and "Four Seasons" (2005) ; A nomination for a Gauteng MEC Award in the category MOST OUTSTANDING MALE DANCER IN CONTEMPORARY STYLE for his performance in 'XMAS MEDLY (Jan 2006).
At the age of 19 he furthered his involvement with dance, qualifying (Honours with Distinction) as a teacher in the internationally recognized Cecchetti method of classical dance training.
Serving as a source of inspiration to many of South Africa's leading choreographers, Magongwa's dance vocabulary is rich and multi faceted. His interest in choreography began in his teens.
His first major choreographic work, Soulmates" at the FNB Dance Umbrella received the following review from Adrienne Sichel, The Star March 2003: "His classical training and township roots inform "Soulmates", a work in progress, that feeds balletic line and dynamics with slips of umqombombothi shebeens of Soweto as well as the studios of Sandton. Using music of fellow Sowetan, Neo Muyanga, Magongwa shows the potential of not only finding his own choreographic signatures but truly Africanising the tutu." Shortly after that followed "Je Suis," a neo classical work for Ballet Theatre Afrikan's season, at the State Theatre. He was just twenty years old!
After his major contribution as co-choreographer for Ballet Theatre Afrikan's recent critically acclaimed production," Just So ..the Cat that Walked through Kipling" , Martin Schönberg, the Artistic Director of Ballet Theatre Afrikan, felt it was imperative to formalize what was rapidly becoming evident: Magongwa's love for choreography and his ability to translate his creativity into original, dynamic and articulate works of art.
He has already been commissioned to choreograph three works for Ballet Theatre Afrikan during 2007 and a work for North West Dance Company.
In the meantime Thoriso Magongwa has definitely not tossed out his dancing shoes and can be seen walking through Kipling as the cat in a short season of "Just So" at the Hilton College on 22 and 23 February. -- www.ballettheatreafrikan.co.za
Posted February 5th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik
