18/03/2018
Meet the pint-sized ‘Town choreographer with a larger than life personality Joyce Hopane. Joyce was born and raised in the small village of “Blood River” in Polokwane in the Limpopo Province. From the age of five (5) she demonstrated a keen interest in the performing arts, especially as a dancer. At the age of fifteen (15) her raw talent came to the attention of Mpho Chepape, the artistic director of Zamdela Performing Arts Centre (ZAPAC) in Sasolburg, who invited her to Sasolburg to assist in developing her talent. In Sasolburg she was able to hone her talent as a dancer working, and living with other youths in the centre. She performed in various local festivals with the centre such as the FNB Vita Dance Umbrella, Step Africa and MACUFE.
After completion of her matric she applied, and got accepted to study dance and choreography at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). From where she graduated in 2006 with a B Tech degree. Whilst still a student at TUT she began working with South African Rhythm and Blues singer KB. Joyce has steadily developed as a seasone dancer, singer and choreographer in the entertainment industry in South Africa.
She was a performer and assistant choreographer to Somizi Mhlongo for the first African cup of Nations Soccer tournament held in South Africa. From 2007 to 2011 she performed with the first cast of the international renowned dance musical “Lion King”. In 2013, she performed as a member of the South African contingent at the opening of the African Union summit in Ethiopia 2013 The next year she participated in a musical theatre production in honor of the African Union in Johannesbuug and performed for three (3) years in the annual music show Afrikaans is Groot in Tshwane. In 2014 she joined Mafikizolo as a dancer and continued to tour widely with the group, all over Africa, Europe, and the United States in America.