Xolisile Bongwana

Eastern Cape-born Xolisile Bongwana is an accomplished dancer who is also well-versed in singing, composing, directing, acting, and choreography. He has worked with the Uphondo Lwe Afrika company in Port Elizabeth (2005–10) and then the Vuyani Dance Theatre (2011–17). Bongwana has enjoyed impressive success as an artist over the past decade and a half and his involvement in 
the performing arts industry has seen him work with award-winning choreographers and directors including William Kentridge, Makhoala Ndebele, Phala Ookeditse Phala, Nhlanhla Mahlangu, Robyn Orlin, Luyanda Sidiya, Gregory Maqoma, Angus Gibson, and James Ngcobo. His performance experience includes the 100 Years ANC Celebration, work with Gibson Kente, Umnikelo, Dominion, Skeleton Dry, Beautiful Us, Four Seasons, the Music Tribute Hugh Masekela Celebration, projects with the Centre for the Less Good Idea (Seasons 1, 2, 5, 9 and 10), and Cion. Bongwana’s composition was used for Luyanda Sidiya’s SIVA, the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist winner for Dance. He has also composed for Makwande, In Her Shoes, and Amawethu, also by Luyanda Sidiya. An artist of note, he was nominated in 2016 as part of the Mail and Guardian list of 200 Young South Africans and won the Eastern Cape Arts and Culture Award for Dance and Choreography and the 2020 Bronze Standard Bank Ovation Award. Bongwana has been part of William Kentridge’s Waiting for the Sibyl and was also involved in Broken Chord by Gregory Maqoma and Thuthuka Sibisi. His solo Mnquma, which he co-choreographed with David April, has been performed at the Centre for the Less Good Idea, Pop Art Theatre, Dance Umbrella Africa 2019, the Market Theatre Intubation Program, and the 2020 VNAF VFRINGE Program. His solo music work Uzuri has been performed at the Joburg Theatre. Recently, Bongwan has made his television debut on Shaka Ilembe as one of the lead music vocals and as Ndwandwe’s Traditional Healer. Bongwana has toured Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Angola, France, the United States, the UK, Spain, Canada, Australia, Italy, Holland, Romania, Finland, Luxembourg, and Brazil.