Explore the minds behind some of the world’s most exciting dance. Now in its sixth year, this edition of Choreographer’s Cut features legendary South African artist Vincent Mantsoe.
Men-Jaro, meaning “friendship” in township slang, marked a turning point in Mantsoe’s choreographic journey. Fusing traditional African steps and ritual with contemporary expression, it celebrates the deep physical, emotional and spiritual ties between people and cultures. Accompanied by live, indigenous music and vocal performance, Men-Jaro creates a communal space where rhythm becomes connection and dance becomes dialogue.
Filmed at IRIE! Dance Theatre (London, UK), this intimate reflection offers fresh insight into a work that redefined Mantsoe’s choreographic language. Nearly two decades on since its presentation at Dance Umbrella in 2006, Men-Jaro continues to resonate with its message of connection, humanity and the power of shared rhythm.
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Vincent Mantsoe
Choreographer & Performer
Credit Henry Curtis
Vincent Mantsoe (he/him)
Choreographer & Performer
Soweto (South Africa) / Saint Pont (France)
Previous Dance Umbrella credits: Ebhofolo (2009, Royal Opera House; Men-Jaro (2006, Southbank Centre); Bupiro Mukiti (2003, The Place); Phokwane, Mpheyane, Gula (1999, The Place)
Vincent Sekwati Koko Mantsoe is an internationally acclaimed choreographer, performer and teacher whose work bridges the spiritual depth of African traditional dance with the rigour of contemporary forms.
Vincent Sekwati Koko Mantsoe is an internationally acclaimed choreographer, performer and teacher whose work bridges the spiritual depth of African traditional dance with the rigour of contemporary forms. Born in Soweto, South Africa, Mantsoe’s choreographic voice was shaped by his early exposure to ceremonial rituals through his family of Sangomas (traditional healers) and later honed through street dance culture in the 1980s. He trained alongside Gregory Maqoma at Moving Into Dance Mophatong under Sylvia Glasser, where he embraced Afro-fusion, a technique blending African dance with Western aesthetics, and developed his distinct style, drawing on Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Venda and Shangaan traditions.
Mantsoe’s creations are marked by their visceral physicality and spiritual intensity, offering audiences a deeply human and often cathartic experience. His solo and group works have toured globally, with critical acclaim across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He moved to France and founded Association Noa in 2005 to foster intercultural collaboration and continues to inspire new generations through mentorship and residencies. Regularly returning to South Africa, his performances remain rooted in ancestral dialogue, existential reflection and a profound sense of movement as memory.
Credits +
Filmed and edited by Henry Curtis
With thanks to IRIE! Dance Theatre for their support
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