Moving into Dance

Moving into Dance (MID) was established in 1978 by Sylvia Glasser as one of the first few mixed-race dance companies and training organizations in South Africa. Founded during apartheid and beginning in a garage, MID has grown into an internationally acclaimed professional dance company and serious development organization with major impact on socio-cultural transformation and economic empowerment of South African youth.

MID is a contemporary African dance company that produces work as an original fusion of African movement, ritual and music with Western contemporary dance forms and music. The company aims to present work that is thought-provoking yet accessible, dynamic, energetic and exciting. MID has pioneered distinctive styles including Afrofusion and Edudance. The professional dance company brings what they describe as fluency to the language of movement, extending the limitations of the human body to produce inspired dance and beautiful movement narratives.

As an internationally recognized incubator, MID has produced a multitude of award-winning and productive dancers, choreographers, arts administrators and teachers. The company continues to inspire, delight and challenge audiences across class, culture and age boundaries throughout South Africa and has performed to enthusiastic audiences throughout Africa, Malaysia, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia, the USA and Canada.

Beyond the professional company, MID operates a full-time one-year fully accredited Performing Arts Training Course (PATC), a Trainee/Apprentice Programme for second and third year training, an extensive Outreach Programme that extends into under-resourced areas throughout South Africa, and recreational dance classes for the general public. The organization is a Non-Profit Organisation guided by the motto 'Nyakaze o Fetohe – Making a Difference Through Dance', embodying its philosophy of transforming lives one student, one dancer, one family, and one community at a time.

Founder Sylvia 'Magogo' Glasser was knighted for her tireless work in the arts by King Willem-Alexander of Holland. Her original ethos—training youth from disadvantaged communities and equipping them with skills to overcome socio-economic circumstances—continues to guide the organization's work. MID is located in the Newtown Cultural Precinct at 1 Helen Joseph Street, corner of Henry Nxumalo Street, Newtown, Johannesburg.

You can engage with MID through recreational dance classes for the general public, watch performances by the professional company, or inquire about the accredited Performing Arts Training Course and apprenticeship programs. The organization also offers outreach teaching in schools and is available for hire for conferences, live events, festivals and theater performances.