Nhlanhla Mahlangu

Exceptional vocalist, composer, theater maker, gravity defying dancer and educator Nhlanhla Mahlangu
is a graduate in the theory and practice of Dance teaching at Moving into Dance, Mophatong. Recently
Mahlangu has turned his attention to translating his prolific local and international career on stage in to
an Master of Arts by Creative Research at the University of Witwatersrand. Mahlangu can only be
described as a generous interdisciplinary collaborator who excels at conjuring original, complex and
contemporary work rooted in traditional forms.
Born in Pholapark Squatter Camp in Apartheid South Africa in the late 1970s, Mahlangu started school
during the national state of emergency in the1980s. Mahlangu witnessed first hand the conflicts
between the African National Congress, Inkatha Freedom Party and The ‘Third Force’ of the 1990s. His
seminal body of work, Chant is shaped and inspired by these experiences.
In addition to his contemporary dance and musical ingenuity Mahlangu is celebrated for his
embodiment of Isicathamiya, a cappella-type musical form combining vocals and movement, Mahlangu
uses this practice as a way to process the history of South Africa, particularly the plight of migrant
workers, these performances look to build social cohesion, heal the wounds of the past and encourage
resilience in the new Democratic South Africa.
Nhlanhla Mahlangu’s prolific practice is one of interrogation, articulation, development and research. He
has gained exceptional ground through his pivotal  collaborations with luminaries the calibre of William
Kentridge, Robyn Orlin, Richard Cock, Gregory Vuyani Maqoma, Sylvia Glasser, Vincent Mantsoe, Jay
Pather, James Ngcobo, Victor Ntoni, Hugh Masekela, as well as his choral music and music making
approaches with his Hlabelela Ensemble and Song and Dance Works. Mahlangu was a Naledi award
winner for Best Choreographer in 2017.