Biography: Mdu Mtshali

Mdu Mtshali

Mdu Mtshali was born and raised in Kwamashu, and trained in dance and drama at the Durban University of Technology and obtained a National Diploma in Drama Studies.In 2002 was awarded the Rio Tinto Richards Bay Mineral/ Brithish Council dance scholarship to study in the UK at the London Contemporary Dance School and Obtained a certificate of Higher Education in Contemporary dance from University of Kent in Canterbury.

Since becoming a professional dancer, in 1999 he traveled with Jean Francious Duroure (what are you doing here) to France, Germany, Netherlands, Congo, Bukina Faso, Guinee, Gabon, Senegal, Abidjan, Ghana when he returned he did Piece in the Valley Musical Directed by Jerry Pooe and traveled with to New York and in Canada. Mdu has worked with a number of dance companies and choreographers including Siwela Sonke (Jay Pather), Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company, Inzalo Theatre Dance Company, African Footprint in Sibaya Casino.In the UK he has worked with Magdelen Hayes from Germany, Andile Sotiya and he traveled to Denmark with Edge LCDS post graduate student company. He choreographed and performed a solo work (Somewhere in my head)for Jomba 2003,Participated in the FNB Dance Umbrella Residency 2004, traveled to Mumbai(India)to perform in the World Social Forum with Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre, received a young choreographers grant to create a new work (Unknown citizen) for FNB Dance Umbrella in 2005 and Uprising Soul in 2006.,his latest choreography was presented at Jomba 2006 as a work in progress.

Mdu is currently working as a Dance Lecturer at the Durban University of Technology in Drama Department and as a movement Lecturer at University of Natal Edgewood College. He is also working with the Children of Cato Manor (catomanor vibe) teaching and choreographing for this outreach programme run by Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company with a funding from the Royal Netherlands Embassy. Mdu has been awarded a Philip Stein grant to create a new work at the FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 and he has completed a module on (HOLIT) Holistic Learning and Integrated Teaching at the Durban University of Technology, Centre of Higher Education and Training