Bafana Matea

Bafana was born in the township of Mamelodi, Pretoria, South Africa and started his dancing career at Pro Arte Alphen Park High School in Pretoria, where he studied Vaganova and the Cecchetti technique. After his studies, he moved to NYC on a scholarship from Miss Judith Jamison to study at the Alvin Ailey school for 2 years. At Ailey, under Miss Denise Jeffreson, Bafana got to work with wonderful choreographers including Mathew Rushing, Colin Connor and Igal Perry. Bafana later joined Ballet Hispanico for 2 years, where he travelled extensively within the US. He later joined Elisa Monte dance for 3 years and toured Europe, visiting Germany, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Brazil. Bafana then joined Battery Dance Company under artistic director Jonathan Hollander. With Battery Dance, he toured five continents in 6 years. The company also spent time in Germany working with high school pupils on a “Dancing to Connect” Project. Bafana helped found “Juxtapower” (South African song and dance), where he was rehearsal director and choreographer and continued to work with Alpha Omega, Delerious Dance, Thomas Ortiz and Mathew Westerby Dance. Bafana has been living in the UK for the past 10 years and teaches at Bird College, Wilkes Academy and the Royal Ballet School, White Lodge. Since being in the UK, he has worked with Tavaziva, BOP Theatre and State of Emergency as a choreographer on a project “Where is Home”. Bafana has been actively teaching at Bird College Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre for 8 years.

“I like the language of dance and also want to share its beautiful giving properties with everyone who is interested in the magic.”