Bringing African Dance to the States

Mziyanda Mancam is originally from Cape Town, South Africa, and is here in the United States for the first time teaching African Dance at Plymouth State University. PSU offers a variety of dance courses including Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Hip-hop, Modern, and now African dance.

Mancam was introduced to the University by PSU alumni, Annamaria Klusevsek. Klusevsek was accepted to an internship in Cape Town during the summer of 2013. Her internship was at Jazz Art, where she first met Mancam. They trained with the dance company for six weeks, and Klusevsek was later able to help Mancam connect with the University. The faculty and staff were very excited to offer a course that Mancam could teach at Plymouth.

Mancam has been dancing professionally for 19 years. Mancam began by dancing after school as an extracurricular activity and began to develop a passion for it. After he had finished school, he worked with dance companies where he began as a trainee and was then invited to be a company member.

Later, Mancam joined Jazz Art, a dance company,in Cape Town where he was trained to be more than just a dancer. He was taught office management skills, teaching methods, and outreach programs. Mancam danced with Jazz Art and later became an outreach coordinator. Jazz Art strives to use art and dance as an educational tool for children.

Mancam worked to create his own "signature" in his choreography and takes inspiration from everyday life to take the norm and turn it into art. "The things that inspire me are the things that people do in every day, and life changes every day," said Mancam.

"For me as a choreographer, I need to look at things that are different, and what can I do differently?" said Mancam. "When I see people and what they do in everyday life, it is so amazing I need to find a way to take that out and put it into the studio."

He uses objects in everyday life as inspiration for his choreography in class. Mancam has collaborated with other companies. He learned from others and saw "how they do their stuff differently" and make it something of his own.

This is the first time Mancam has been in the United States, "I am feeling excited but nervous," he said. "I was worried about how I will be myself in the states. I'm enjoying myself here, it's cold here, but I'm coping with it."

Students are greatly appreciative and excited to have Mancam. "Mzi is an amazing addition to our dance department this semester. Being able to take multiple different technique classes from him is such a gift," said Marina Phillips, a junior.

He looks forward to collaborating with the students, teachers, and technical support. "It's about time for me now to spread my wings and to give back to other people because I have a lot of information in me to give out," said Mancam.