Phelelani Ndakrokra – Zip-Zap’s Giant-hoola-hoop taming, soaring acrobat!
Phelelani Ndakrokra opens up about his journey from the streets of Cape Town to the stages of the world.
The Zip-Zap Circus’s Phelelani Ndakrokra – and MOYA star – opens up about his journey from the streets of Woodstock in Cape Town, to soaring through the air in Fourways on the Teatro Monte-Casino stage.
“I started at Zip-Zap in 2010 where everything actually began – when my life changed,” Ndakrokra elaborated. “Before that, I was in a situation where no kids or other human would like to be; I stayed on the street, but I’m not going to talk so much about it.”
ALSO READ: Zip-Zap Circus’s Moya leaves audiences craving more
According to Ndakrokra, a lady with ties to the people at the shelter at Mult-Civic Centre in Salt River (Western Cape) helped him to get off the streets, aligning the star acrobat with opportunities befitting his talents.
“The people in that shelter were doing a programme called Second Chance with Zip-Zap,” said Ndakrokra. “All the kids that were staying at the shelter there had an opportunity to be part of Zip-Zap.”
Ndakrokra expressed his awe at seeing an actual circus for the very first time.
“The first time I entered The Dome at Artscape, I saw guys juggling with clubs and balls; guys riding unicycles; they asked me if I’m interested in doing something like that,” Ndakrokra said. “I was so mesmerised and amazed by the things that I saw. So, I said yes, I would like to try this.”
Ndakrokra’s first opportunity to perform was through the Zip-Zap Circus’s Simunye youth programme in 2012, which exposed him to the international community as a performer for the first time.
ALSO READ: Brent Van Rensburg – Producer of MOYA at Zip-Zap Circus
“I went to France to perform,” said Ndakrokra, remembering the time the Zip-Zap Circus was invited to open at a competition there in that year. “Since then is when I saw where my passion is; I love entertaining people, and I love to be on stage – and share my story without speaking, but with my movement.”
According to Ndakrokra, the vibe and energy of audiences in Fourways at Monte-Casino make coming to Johannesburg a memorable experience.
“People here in Johannesburg love to support other people that are pushing their stuff,” Ndakrokra said. “Every time that we perform, when they shout and scream their enjoyment. It gives us energy on stage to even push more.”
Ndakrokra confessed to not being a fussy eater when in Johannesburg.
“I go to Debonairs, or go to Steers, or also, sometimes, get some Shwarma,” said Ndakrokra. “There’s some nice Take-Aways here at Checkers: there’s pap, and meat. I eat anything that’s in front of me, except onions.”
Through the Zip-Zap Circus, Ndakrokra has been exposed to a number of countries in the world: France, Switzerland, London, Wales, Ivory Coast, and Reunion Island, to mention some. This exposure has instilled in Ndakrokra a desire to learn more towards teaching, and becoming the best circus performer he can be for South Africa.
“I still see myself performing, continuing pursuing my dreams, being all over the stages everywhere in the world where I can be helping other kids to also focus on their dreams too,” Ndakrokra concludes. “I would also love to go and circus overseas; to have the opportunity to maybe be that side for a year to learn skills that I can also bring home and share with my brothers and sisters in South Africa.”
Related Article:
