Overview

My parents named me Vuyani, which simply means be happy and let us rejoice!’ The Joy Dancer, by multi-award-winning dancer and choreographer, Gregory Vuyani Maqoma, co-written with the legendary Gcina Mhlophe, takes children on a jubilant voyage through his extraordinary life. This is an autobiographical children’s book brought to life with vibrant illustrations from the acclaimed illustrator, Elizabeth Pulles. To celebrate Gregory’s 50th turn around the sun, and in marking his legacy (Birthday Legacy Project), he shares his journey of self-discovery, reminding children that their dreams can take them on extraordinary adventures, such as his. Gregory grew up in Soweto where he found magic in music and dance as a young child. His father’s jazz music, the gumboot dancers at the men’s hostel, and seeing Michael Jackson on television all stirred his imagination. Gregory played the big drum for the marching band with the drum majorettes and created his own band called The Joy Dancers who performed for his community. Gregory had a dream to dance and in this stunning book, children will take pleasure and inspiration in dreaming along with him. Both dazzling and informative–and as profoundly rich as Gregory’s dreams–The Joy Dancer will be a cherished classics for generations to come. This book is his legacy and our children’s heritage.

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9781431434237

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Gregory Vuyani Maqoma became interested in dance in the late 1980s as a means to escape the growing political tensions growing in Soweto, South Africa, where he was born. He started his formal dance training in 1990 at Moving into Dance, where he, later, became the Associate Artistic Director in 2002. He founded Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT) in 1999 while undertaking a scholarship at the Performing Arts Research and Training School (PARTS) in Belgium, under the direction of Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker. Maqoma has established himself as an internationally renowned dancer, choreographer, teacher and director. Greg has received numerous awards, among these the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for dance in 2002; the Tunkie Award for Leadership in Dance (2012), the New York City’s premier dance award, a “Bessie”, for Exit/Exist for original music composition (2014); and the Chevalier de L’Ordre des Artes et des Lettres (Knight of the Arts & Literature) Award in 2017 from the French government. Maqoma celebrates his fiftieth birthday in 2023 and he has curated a number of legacy projects that he will be revealing as the year progresses. Gcina Mhlophe is a celebrated South African author, playwright and performer who has made a significant impact in the literary and entertainment industries. Her creative work spans across multiple genres, including children’s literature, poetry, plays and short stories. Gcina has also made a name for herself as a performer, having produced and performed on a CD for children with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, as well as performing her own stories for television audiences on the SABC TV series Gcina & Friends. With her talent and creativity, Gcina has become an inspiration to many aspiring writers and performers, both in South Africa and beyond. Elizabeth Pulles is a talented, award-winning South African illustrator whose artistic journey has been fuelled by a passion for storytelling and a love for visual expression. Born with a natural curiosity and a vivid imagination, Elizabeth discovered her affinity for art at a young age and embarked on a creative path, ultimately qualifying with a Masters Degree in Art in which she specialised in the children’s book illustration. Dedicated to bringing diversity to picture books and drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of South Africa, Elizabeth’s illustrations seek to celebrate the vibrancy of the environment and reflect warmth in relationships with others. Elizabeth’s creative approach makes room for traditional and digital techniques. She begins with thumbnail sketches, developing a storyboard where she plays with the visual unfolding of the story and then develops the characters in their environments with the aid of intensive research. Her colourful illustrations have graced the pages of numerous books and magazines, captivating readers with their evocative storytelling and visual charm.

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