Nosipho on the move
Dancing is her passion, but it’s her entrepreneurial skills that are funding Nosipho Mkhize’s dream of showcasing her talent and sharing her skills as a versatile dancer.
The eSikhawini contemporary and ballet performer is back in Zululand after a year of training with the Phakama Dance Theatre at the Playhouse Company.
She outshone many other contestants across the province during auditions and has returned more experienced.
Excited to share her knowledge, Mkhize has been performing at local events and community fund-raisers and has plans to start a youth dance school.
She is involved in numerous community development initiatives and is actively using her love for the arts to promote programmes focused on gender-based violence, women empowerment, entrepreneurship and uplifting the community.
‘Dancing is my passion, but it is my baking business that supports the process as I work on making dancing my full-time career.
‘After participating in an entrepreneurial competition hosted by the Zululand
Chamber of Commerce and
Industry in 2016, it opened up endless opportunities for me to explore how I can use my arts and creativity to make money. Baking novelty cakes gave me that platform.’ Nosipho started dancing professionally when she was in Grade 10, further developing her craft during her years at the University of Natal, where she obtained a BA drama and music degree.
‘After I completed my studies I returned home, but soon realised that arts are not prominent here and so I incorporated that creativity into baking to make extra money.
‘When I returned to Zululand in May, I picked up the baking business again and it continues to flourish.’
She is also a television presenter on community television channel 1KZN, and hosts a show which focuses on addressing issues relating to young girls and women. Supporting local women in business, Nosipho is also often seen at events directing programmes or offering motivational messages of support, encouraging women to get involved in initiatives to benefit the communities in which they live.
She is currently teaching dancing to a group of youngsters under her Born to Dance Youth Programme, which she established in 2014.
Her goal for next year is to establish a baking academy and to employ modern and hip-hop dancers to establish a dance school for schoolchildren.