Gumboots
energy! it‘s magic!

Gumboots dance was formed in the early fifties by the group of mine workers, to celebrate, to refresh their minds and for the toy toy (protest). But more than that Via Katlehong Dance have managed to modernise it in such a way that it is worked and collaborated with Tap, Step, Pantsula and traditional music dance (Gum-step-tap-pantsula). They are all performing at the same time using their different language (rhythm) dance style making one energetic movement that creates big sound of rhythm. Boot, hand clapping, whistling, singing, tap-sound… A lot of energy is demanded and it also enter-acts with the audience, … it’s magic.




Via Katlehong Dance
The award winning Via Katlehong Dance was formed in 1992. Originally a community troupe, Via Katlehong Dance was composed by youths from the township of Katlehong in the East Rand – a notorious war zone during the 1980’s uprising in South Africa – to keep away from the criminal activity raging in their township.

Lead by Michael Moloi, Vusi Mdoyi and Steven Faleni, the company comprises a community school of dance and an 18-members who are professionally outfit. They specialise in Pantsula, a South African township dance, and other neo-traditional forms such as Gumboots, tap Pantsula and steps - a township interpretation of Gumboots dance.

Via Katlehong Dance, through their innovative approach to Pantsula, Gumboots, Tap and Steps, they helped to revive the form, making it an important feature in South African contemporary dance today. They have won many awards along the way, including FNB Vita Dance, Dance Umbrella awards, Gauteng Dance Showcase, KTV Most Brilliant Achievement and Gauteng MEC Development Award amongst others.

They also currently participated in "Step Africa“, an international cultural exchange dance workshop involving South Africa, the United States and Great Britain. They were currently involved in the Cultural exchange dance educational workshops in CNCDC Châteauvallon (France).
The piece "Nkululeko – celebrating 10 years in South Africa" was performed in many cities and dance festivals such as Les Rencontres de La Villette – Paris, Suresnes Cités Danse – Suresnes, C’est de la Danse Contemporaine ! CDC -Toulouse (France), and venues like Le Parvis – Scène Nationale de Tarbes, Dieppe Scène Nationale – Dieppe, L’Odyssée - Périgueux in France.