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Choreographer Gregory Maqoma to work with UNM dance students
Choreographer Gregory Maqoma is working with University of New Mexico contemporary dance students to create a new work slated to premiere in the faculty dance concert at Rodey Theatre on Feb. 23-March 2.
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The University of New Mexico Theatre and Dance Department is adding Soweto choreographer Gregory Maqoma to its roster.
Maqoma is working with UNM contemporary dance students to create a new work slated to premiere in the faculty dance concert at Rodey Theatre on Feb. 23-March 2.
The artist became interested in dance in the 1980s as a means to escape the political tensions growing in South Africa. He began his dance training in 1990 at Moving into Dance, where he became the associate artistic director in 2002. He founded Vuyani Dance Theatre in 1999 when he was undertaking a scholarship at the Performing Arts Research and Training School in Belgium.
Maqoma has collaborated with artists around the globe and has been recognized by numerous institutions, including the Standard Bank Young Award and the Tunkie Award for Leadership in Dance.
Maqoma was artistic director of the Afro-Vibes Festival in the Netherlands and in England from 2004-2010. He has served on the dance committee of the National Arts Festival from 2011–2017, and curated the Main Dance Festival Program for 2017. He teaches at various universities in Africa, the U.S. and Europe, including the University of California, Maine’s Bates College, Vermont’s Bennington College and the University of Minnesota Dance Department. He has created repertoire for Moving into Dance, Jazzart Contemporary Dance Theatre, South African Ballet Theatre and Cape Academy of Performing Arts, amongst others.
