Masande Narwele, South Africa, 28

Identified by Project Phakama

Masande is a dancer, choreographer and dance teacher. At the age of sixteen, he co-founded the dance group Sunrise, with the mission statement to ‘lift the standard of living in the community’. In 1997 Masande was scouted for Capetown’s arts training programme Music-active, propelling his career as a dancer. In 1998, Masande joined Project Phakama, a multidisciplinary arts company based on an ethos of diversity in age, experience and culture. He performed recently in Crossing boarders, a joint production between Project Phakama and Sweden’s Regina Theatre. Masande’s work as a choreographer includes Ubizo (the calling), Ubunto (Community) and African Christmas under Scottish skies, performed at the Edinburgh fringe festival in 1999.