Soweto’s Dance Icon Dada Masilo Passes Away at 39

Soweto-born dancer and choreographer Dada Masilo has died at 39 following a brief illness. Her passing comes shortly after she was honored by the City of Johannesburg as one of 44 artistic icons, receiving a star at Soweto Theatre.

Masilo was celebrated both locally and internationally for her innovative approach to dance. In September 2024, she received an Italian lifetime achievement award for classic and contemporary dance at the Premio Positano Léonide Massine for the Art of Dance.

Born in February 1985, Masilo’s career began at the age of 11 when she performed for Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. She later graduated from the National School of the Arts in 2002, followed by training at Jazzart Dance and Belgium’s Performing Arts Research and Training Studios (P.A.R.T.S).

Masilo received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the Gauteng Arts and Culture MEC Award for ‘Most Promising Female Dance in a Contemporary Style’ in 2006. At 22, she won the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance, marking the start of her international career.

Masilo was known for reinterpreting classic ballets, incorporating African dance motifs into works such as ‘Swan Lake,’ ‘Carmen,’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ Her ‘Swan Lake’ was nominated for a Bessie Award in 2016, and in 2017, her ‘Giselle’ won ‘Best Performance’ at the Italian Danza&Danza Awards. In 2018, she was awarded the Prince Claus ‘Next Generation’ Award in the Netherlands.

Throughout her career, Masilo collaborated with prominent figures like William Kentridge, Ann Masina, and Gregory Maqoma, leaving a lasting impact on contemporary dance both in South Africa and internationally.