Nelson Mandela Bay Dance Festival

Nelson Mandela Bay Dance Festival (NMBDF) celebrates diversity and resilience

NMBDF is set to celebrate a powerful convergence of heritage and creativity when it hosts the 44th annual event from 25 – 30 August at the Savoy Theatre. The official launch was staged against the evocative backdrop of St Peter’s Church Ruins—a site that embodies the cultural resilience and rich, diverse history of South End.

The church ruins, now partially restored, stand as a ‘history book in stone’—a testament to both the tragedy of forced removals and the hope of cultural revival. The site’s restoration will soon also include an amphitheatre, coffee shop, memorial walk and public spaces, making it a fitting landscape for a festival that also commemorates artistic expression and community resilience. “The synergy between the NMB Dance Festival and the St Peter’s Rainbow Village captures the essence of how inspired moments can inspire us,” said Shaun van Eck from the MBDA’s St Peter’s project.

“The St Peter’s project captures the culture of the old South End as the embodiment of what Madiba asked for 80 years later,” said van Eck. “It captures a diverse community that lived and shared hope for the future as one. NMBDF does the same. It is an expression of the creativity and passion of a community. It ignites a hope for the future in us, just as the St Peter’s experience does.”

The Nelson Mandela Bay Dance Festival, showcasing a vibrant tapestry of dance styles from classical ballet and tap to hip hop, traditional dance and modern, mirrors the rich cultural diversity once embraced by the South End community—honouring the legacy of unity and resilience symbolized by the historic St Peter’s Church Ruins.

This year the NMB Dance Festival has 26 studios that have entered, this confirms an increase in the dancers who will be performing at this year’s event. The celebration of dance will culminate in a Gala Evening featuring the performance highlights of the festival and awards presentation on Saturday 30 August.

Photo by Dirk Moggee features Natasha Tait Dance Studio and dancers Stella, Dimaristi, Abigail, Becca & Mahika.