Teresa Phuti Mojela

A South African artist born and raised in Ivory Park and Limpopo Province, Phuti Mojela is an internationally acclaimed performing artist, dancer, choreographer, teacher, mentor, movement director, and independent producer. She plays the lead character Sibyl in William Kentridge’s Waiting for the Sibyl, which won the 2023 Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera. She is a founding member and director of Phuti Pedi Productions, Saturday dance classes for children, and a curator/artistic director of Basadi Dance Festival and Mothlana Kalana Incubator 2023 for young female/nonbinary choreographers and dancers. She began acting and dancing in 1999 at Umqhele Secondary School in Ivory Park, taught by her teacher Kwena Mphela and working with the Tembisa-based Township Mirror Theatre Group under the leadership of the late Oupa “China” Malatjie. Phuti Mojela studied dance, theater, and drama at Paul Rapetsoa’s Institute of Dramatic Arts (2005–06), Inzalo Dance Theatre (2008), and Tribhangi Dance Theatre (2009). She has performed in Thabo Rapoo’s Sehume Tlokweng for Dance Umbrella (2009) and was featured in Luyanda Sidiya’s Indlela for Dance Umbrella with Luthando Arts Academy (2010). From 2010–14, she was a senior dancer with Vuyani Dance Company under Gregory Maqoma as well as a dance teacher for Outreach Children’s program and Vuyani Saturday Academy. Phuti Mojela continued as a teacher and dancer in 2015 at Moving into Dance Mophatong. She was invited by the Holland Festival to partake and present her work in the Immerse@HF Program and along with William Kentridge, she has worked with artists including Omphile Molusi, Craig Higginson, Themba Mbuli, Bronwyn Lace, Phala O. Phala, James Ngcobo, Leila Henriques, Mwenya Kabwe, Shanell Winlock, Robyn Orlin, Sello Pesa, Vice Monageng, Athena Mazarakis, Napo Masheane, Ntshieng Mokgoro, Jerry Mofokeng, Jayspree Moopen, Margaret Mokoka, Mark Hawkins, Moeketsi Koena, Alfred Hinkel, Sylvia “Magogo” Glasser, Florent Mahoukou, Javier Velazquez Cabrero, and Eric Trufas. Phuti Mojela has toured extensively in Australia, Europe, and the United States. She is a freelancer and aspiring sound and lighting technician mentored by Ntuthuko Mbuyazi, Siya Nkosi, Sibusiso Ndumndum, and Oliver Hauser. Currently Phuti Mojela is a director and assistant choreographer for Ekurhuleni Young Stars Outreach Program (Children’s Rights).