Heartbreaking loss: Dada Masilo dies suddenly

The dancer’s passing at the young age of 39 was unexpected and deeply heartbreaking. Those who knew her best described her as energetic and fearless, a bold pioneer unafraid to break boundaries. She reimagined European ballet classics by weaving in rich African motifs, transforming them into something uniquely her own and leaving an enduring legacy on South Africa’s contemporary dance scene.

Her visionary work touched audiences worldwide, inspiring thousands with its beauty and brilliance.

Life and career success

Dada Masilo was born in a township of Johannesburg, Soweto. She started dancing at the age of 11. As a 19-year-old, she was accepted and studied at the Performing Arts Research and Training Studios in Brussels (P.A.R.T.S.) for two years.

That was when she fell in love with the classics, particularly Shakespeare. As a student, one of the first things she had to do was memorize a challenging Juliet’s speech and then turn it into a dance. Wasn’t it for this experience, she might not have ever started recreating classical pieces in the first place.

Dada had it clear from the start that she would return to her native land. Her life in Europe was challenging, mainly because of the cultural shock she had to deal with. The thing she missed the most were the emotions felt in Johannesburg.   

In 2008, she returned to South Africa and was awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance.

Soon after, three most important works were brought to life – Romeo and Juliet (2008), Carmen (2009), and Swan Lake (2010), which soon became popular in Europe, and even toured in America in 2016. This success was followed by a nomination for the Bessie Award in New York.

Apart from dancing, she dedicated a great deal of her career to choreography. She first took choreography classes at the P.A.R.T.S in Brussels and quickly discovered she was good at it. She carried on with the occupation when she returned to her native Johannesburg, since there were no choreographers who did the kind of work she wanted to do.

She gained international attention after making a solo called The Bitter End of Rosemary inspired by Hamlet. She danced in France, where she was noticed by an agent, who soon became her booking agent. Consequently, she appeared at various internationally acclaimed dance festivals across the world.

Similar to mastering casino games like poker or blackjack, navigating a career as a professional dancer and choreographer requires strategy. In an interview published by the International Consortium for Advancement in Choreography in 2022, she admitted she carefully chose dancers she collaborated with. That became clear right at the audition, where she picked dancers with presence, personality, and matching energy.

“To do my work, you’ve got to have a sense of humor and a passion, and you’ve got to be different. If you don’t have these qualities, then I’m not interested. If we’re not on the same page to begin with, then what’s the point?” she claimed.

The work: style and themes

With electrifying blend of strength and vulnerability, the renowned South African dancer used expressive movements to speak her mind, often exploring themes such as gender, sexuality and cultural identity. She once admitted she drew inspiration from the society around her and what was happening in the world. “I try to be kind, and I’d say I’m someone who is aware of the world around me.” That’s how she saw herself.

As she stated in an interview, it was her hometown, Johannesburg, that inspired her works the most. She described life in the city as tough. Moments she saw on the streets sparked emotions in the artist, which were transformed on stage.

In 2017, she premiered another emblematic piece, Giselle, recreating a great 19th-century romantic ballet, which deals with topics such as gender equality, and feminism. She pays special attention to the Wilis, the revengeful spirits of heart-broken girls, representing them with female as well as male actors, to show that a broken heart is not exclusively a woman’s matter.

The Sacrifice, inspired by Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, premiered in 2021. The piece combines European classic elements with a traditional dance called “Tswana.” Originally from Botswana, the dance is inspired by the typical African animal, the meerkat. When learning the dance, Dada communicated with the elderly, to ensure the steps were in line with the traditions.

Now, the whole dance world mourns Masilo’s shocking passing. “I will not forget how her seemingly timid appearance transformed into an incredible force once she took the stage. Despite all her achievements, she still considered herself a dancer first and foremost because dancing was what she loved doing. Somehow, I recognise myself in that: that unconditional passion for dance as the most beautiful language there is to bring people together and spread it across the world,” expressed renowned contemporary dancer choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker.