Internationally celebrated choreographer Mamela Nyamza’s long-overdue performances inspire the next generation and celebrate heritage through dance.
Fresh from winning the prestigious award, Silver Lion, at the 2026 Venice Biennale Danza and being named a finalist for the 2026 Salavisa European Dance Award (SEDA), South Africa’s internationally celebrated dance icon and choreographer Mamela Nyamza is bringing her global triumph home in the most joyful way possible.
Presented by Mamela’s Artistic Movement NPC and co-produced by Venice Biennale, Dance Umbrella UK and Lalanbik La Reunion, Nyamza will grace The Baxter at Cape Town with two extraordinary works that honour her heritage, her culture, and the transformative power of dance.
Hatched ensemble
Cape Town Premiere, 29 & 30 April 2026 at 20:00. The highly anticipated Hatched Ensemble will debut in Cape Town after its Paris run in Mid-April, where the show has already sold out, reflecting strong international demand. The early demand for the Paris performances signals strong international interest in the production and positions the Cape Town premiere as a rare opportunity for local audiences to experience the work.
The Herd/Less
Cape Town World Premiere (ahead of its European Premiere at the Venice Biennale Danza) 1 May 2026 at 20:00 & 2 May 2026 at 14:00, Baxter Theatre.
This long-overdue homecoming marks a beautiful full-circle moment for the Gugulethu-born artist. From her early days at the supportive and nurturing Zama Dance School, where her love for movement was embraced and celebrated, to standing on the world’s most prestigious stages, Nyamza’s journey is one of pure positivity, resilience and change. Now she returns to Cape Town’s premier mainstream theatre to share that light with her people.
“These performances at The Baxter are my heartfelt homecoming and my way of saying thank you to my South African supporters,” says Nyamza. “They are also my gentle invitation to all mainstream theatres to keep opening their doors even wider, so more artists can bring their activism the powerful fusion of art and activism to every audience. Dance is joy. Dance is heritage. Dance is the future we are building together.”
Following the complete sell-out of her upcoming Paris showing, Nyamza and her team are calling on all South Africans to come out in even greater numbers and beat that record at the Baxter. “Let’s show the world what happens when Cape Town stands behind its own,” she adds. “This is our moment to celebrate together.”
Inspiring the Next Generation. Ahead of the opening night, Mamela will host a free special open rehearsal with learners and students from local schools and ICT. This interactive session will give young people the chance to experience her creative process up close, engage deeply with her work, and share their own artistic aspirations, creating a true bridge between generations.
Complementing this, the “hatch the future” pop-up activation series will deliver free workshops in Gugulethu, Nyanga and Khayelitsha schools and in UCT, talent-scouting the next wave of dancers for scholarships through Mamela’s Artistic Movement NPC. Participating youth will receive a “Silver Lion Passport” offering special ticket discounts and priority access to the main shows.
These performances also plant the first seeds for Nyamza’s 50th Birthday Jubilee celebrations later in 2026, a year dedicated to legacy, mentorship and continued cultural impact.
Sir Wayne McGregor, Artistic Director of La Biennale di Venezia, praised her as an artist who “has caused a seismic shift in our understanding of dance” and whose work is “deeply connected to the rhythms, landscapes, and symbols of ancestral traditions.”
Book now at Webtickets and be part of history.