Pantsula culture united communities during the apartheid era in South Africa, this dance style brought many diverse groups together, allowed the creation of a new Pantsula language, it encouraged innovation and established a Pantsula way of life with a specific fashion to represent the culture. New ways of survival emerged through incredible dance movements within Black neighbourhoods. The dance opened doors for more creativity and influenced many contemporary dance movements. 

Troupe De Dance are based in Pretoria, South Africa. Arts La’Olam invited them to the UK and offered to provide homestay accommodation at Old Hall Community. Our letter helped Troupe de Dance receive a Mzansi Golden Economy grant award from the Department of Sport, Arts & Culture of the Republic of South Africa to visit the UK in September 2026. Arts La’Olam created a plan for their Marketing Tour which included calculating all travel and sustenance costs and arranging paid performances and meeting key figures in the London hip hop and breakdance scene.

Their dance performance ‘My Hope My Art’ is a high velocity dance piece which creates a sharp focus on the power of  Hope, using unique movements and choreography with amazing foot work, fusing Pantsula with contemporary dance.

“My Hope My Art” takes Pantsula dance to greater heights by integrating and fusing other dance genres. These performances are very integral to youth culture and not only demonstrates the talent and discipline but brings food to the table through emerging creative careers. The narrative piece explains the origins of the Pantsula dance form and how it has shaped and sustained both cultural identity and a means of earning a living for young people. The dancers perform original songs performed by the legends and the performance is enhanced with African drums, guitars, vocal songs and new audio devices.

The dance piece demonstrates the energy and a high performance level, and includes a unique costume design to best tell the narrative of Hope through creative dance.

Duration: 40 minutes

Cast number: 8 members include (dancers, vocal artists, drummer, guitarist, choreographer and director)

Here’s where Troupe de Dance performed and taught in September 2026:

• Thu 17 Sept Norwich School & Norwich Market Show 4-5pm, free

• Fri 18 Sept Dance East, Ipswich: Workshop 2-4pm, Sharing 4-5pm, free

• Sat 19 Sept Old Hall, East Bergholt: Workshop 10-12noon, Sharing 12-1pm, £5 each

• Sat 19 Sept Old Hall Constable 250 Party (Regency dress optional) 8pm , free

• Sun 20 Sept Walton Arts Festival Between the Tides 10am & 11am, free

• Sun 20 Sept Global Village Sudbury Arts Centre: Workshop & Show, 2pm, free

• Mon 21 Sept Sadler’s Wells East, London; Studio Sharing & Show, 10am & 11am, free

To find out more and to book for 2027 or 2028, contact Daisy Lees at Arts La’Olam at daisy@la-olam.com