Tap into Oscar Buthelezi’s sensational dance world
Even on the dusty streets of Vosloorus, Oscar Buthelezi, the son of a taxi driver, never stopped dreaming.
The 25-year-old is, today, an international, award-winning dancer and choreographer.
With 12 years of experience in dancing to his name, he was recently crowned the winner of the 2016 Kurt >Jooss Prize, in >Essen, Germany.
Buthelezi was brought up by his single parent father and is living proof of how determination can lead to success.
“Growing up life was good; my father raised me and my brother in a warm household. He used to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to go to work to put food on our table,” he said.
“My brother and I made sure that the house chores were done every day, as it was our responsibility,” >Buthelezi said.
Te dancer, who attended >Khayelihle Primary School and >Illinge High School, is associated with Moving into Dance Mophatong’s (MIDM) professional dance company.
His dance career dates back to when he was six years old, dancing with a group called Via >Vosloorus >Mapantsula Youth Club, where he fell in love with Zulu and African-style dance.
He has been involved in television productions such as Yo TV Groove and Jika MaJika, a popular dance-off show on SABC1, where he choreographed a number of dance pieces.
He later joined Nkosinathi Cultural Productions, where he started performing at well-known festivals such as the annual South African Dance Festival, the Dance Umbrella and the internationally acclaimed South African National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
In 2008 he headed overseas to perform in France and the Netherlands.
The greatest achievement of Buthelezi’s life was winning the 2016 Kurt Jooss Prize.
“I heard about the awards from MIDM artistic director Mark Hawkins last year, and he encouraged me to submit ‘Road’,” he said.
“This is a poetic and poignant duet, performed alongside fellow MIDM dancer and rehearsal director, >Muzi >Shili, about navigating to where we want to be and defining the route that guides us there.”
The award-winning dancer and choreographer still can’t shake off the excitement of winning the prestigious award.
“It was the most humbling yet proudest moment of my career. The calibre of the other finalists was incredible and I am so grateful and blessed to have won both awards,” he said.
“Since I won I have been motivated to work harder, to give back and to keep pushing my choreography in innovative directions.
“Knowing that I made history for winning Judges and Audience Choice Awards and being the first South African to win the Kurt Jooss Prize makes me happy.”
Buthelezi said the encouragement he gets from friends and family has been incredible, as people have been giving him the support to go from strength to strength.
“Winning the award has given me hope for young people from similar backgrounds to as me. If I did it then they can, as long if they are willing.
“I am grateful for everything.”
His future plan is to choreograph Afrofusion as a technique and contemporary dance, with Moving into Dance.
“My advice to young people is to work hard, stay humble and never give up,” he said.
>Buthelezi has recently recently been recognized as one of SA’s young talents to look out for on the Mail & Guardian Young 200 List for 2016.
