Tswelelang Cultural Dancers

BIO

a. Company History

Tswelelang Traditional Dancers group was established in 2000 by a group of young dynamic dancers and the majority of them are orphans from Logageng in Ratlou area. The group comprises of 20 members, 10 female dancers and 10 male dancers.

Tswelelang Cultural Dancers was formed with sole purpose of contributing meaningfully to the enhancement of the performing arts in the province, given the proud record, which the province has in producing quality performers from all genres of the performing arts. To keep the youth from the streets by actively participating in matters of local government such that the communities are informed of all the legislative processes in government as enshrined in the Local Government Municipal Systems Act.

b. What we do

Tswelelang is committed to the creation of artistic performances in dance, music, poetry and musical theatre. Its primary target audience is the people from the rural communities who are seldom exposed to the mainstream entertainment industry in line with the services offered by the organisation.

2. Strategy & Vision

Vision statement
The establishment of a leading platform for progressive cultural dancers and performing artists to emerge from the rural communities of the North West Province.

Tswelelang Cultural Dancers will accomplish its vision by:
• Promoting a progressive and sustainable development of the performing arts, especially in rural areas of our province.
• Training and building capacity for our artists involved in this sector.
• Effective community partnerships.

a. Mission statement

Effective utilisation of the abundant artistic talent that exists in our rural communities to create about sustainable livelihoods and make a significant contribution to the national cultural melting pot. Community participation and stakeholder mobilisation are key to these dreams.

b. Values
• Integrity
• Honesty
• Loyalty
• Discipline
• Transparency
• Sound financial management
• Sound corporate governance

3. Business goals & Objectives

• Establish a platform from which our artists from rural areas can showcase their diverse talents.
• Create projects, which can be sustained which artists can benefit from in terms of creating employment for them.
• Secure the necessary funding to put up and perform proposed projects.
• Always identify with our rural audiences through securing a practical performance space, which will be practically accessible, noting the challenges of our targeted audiences.
• Ensure equitable empowerment of youth, women and people with disabilities in all the projects undertaken by the organization.
• To advance nation building, through making the current generations of Logageng conscious about Municipal Local Government
• To celebrate social cohesion through highlighting a sterling example of a multi-cultural society which Logageng was in its prime.
• Advance Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal by advocating for the resettlement of our people to their native land.
• Seek to advance radical economic transformation by ensuring that the community will explore economic potential of their land that is Logageng.
• Advance ideals of the VTSD Enterprise Development Strategy by giving economic empowerment to our rural population, chiefly through advocating for agrarian and rural enterprise development as future prospects for Logageng.

a. Growth strategy

• Sourcing of external talent and skill on a contractual basis to enhance in house capacity
• Diversification of in-house performing arts products to create sustainable growth
• Investment in strategic asserts of value to the future of the organisation

4. Products & Services

a. Products
Traditional dance, music, poetry, drama & story-telling, beadwork, performing arts skills transfer and consultancy.

b. Services
Theatrical performances, municipal ward level workshops around local government, live concerts, audio music production and professional dance competitions.

c. Business competitiveness
This is one of the few organisations in the arts industry formed with the main if not sole purpose of focusing entirely on artistic development in the rural communities, thus effective promotion of what has been termed ‘taking theatre to the people’. It is rooted entirely in the community it serves and thus has a large community buy-in.

d. Quality policies
Registered with RISA,SAMPRA, IMPRA & SAMRO.

5. Management & Ownership

a. Directors

Mr. Godsend G. Mokgope

b. Managers
Mr. Godsend G. Mokgope (Managing Director)
Mr. Bakang Molefe (Chairperson)
Miss Angela Mogorosi (Public Liaison Officer) Local Government Workshops

c. Mr. Godsend G. Mokgope (Managing Director)
Mr.Bakang Molefe (Chairperson)

d. Affirmative action initiatives
This is a 100% black owned organisation with sizable number of youth, women and people with disabilities participating and benefiting.

e. BEE
Level 1 contributor BEE Certificate

6. Portfolio

Tswelelang Cultural Dancers Performance Highlights

2002 – Performed at Cultural Festival held in Logageng village and obtained position one.
2002 – Performed at Nasrec at World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Sandton, Johannesburg.
2003 – Performed at African Night Function at Institute of Tourism at Hotel School in Mafikeng.
2003 – Performed at Sun City.
2004 – Performed at the opening of North West Provincial Legislature.
2005 – Performed at official opening of Standard Bank in Setlagole – Ratlou Local Municipality.
2005 – Performed at Regional Finals of Zindala Zombili held in Logageng and obtained position 2.
2005 – Performed at Provincial Finals – Zindala Zombili Festival held in Klerksdorp and obtained position 3.
2005 – Performed at Regional Finals in North West Cultural Calabash held in Makgobistadt and obtained position 1.
2006 – Performed in Setlagole – Inauguration of the Mayor Petrus Setlhogo.
2006 – Performed in Sandton, Johannesburg, and Celebrity Wedding of Pepsi Pokane, which appeared in ROOTS on SABC One.
2007 – Performed in Setlagole recently at the official handover of 1000 housing subsidies.
2007 – Performed at the regional competitions of Zindala Zombili and took position one (1)
2007 – Performed again in the District Finals of Zindala Zombili and obtained position one
2008 -- Performed at the Provincial finals of Zindala Zombili and obtained position one
2008 – Performed at the National Zindala Zombili Gala dinner held Mmabatho Convention Centre
2008 – Took part in the Stop Crime Drama Festival held in Mmabana Mafikeng
2008 – Invited to compete for the international festival to be held in Brazil
2009= Nominated for Best Traditional Dance Group SATMA AWARDS 2009 certificate awarded
2009- Performed at the Poko Seminar at Convention center
2009- Performed at the amongst the stars musical celebrations at Mmabatho convention center
2010- Nominated in the PREMIERS YOUTH EXCELLENCE AWARDS in the SECOND RUNNER UP ARTS AND CULTURE CATEGORY certificate awarded
2010 – Nominated in the 17th MTN SAMA AWARDS in the BEST SETSWANA ALBUM CATEGORY
2011-Performed at the launching of the SATMA AWARDS ceremony at the University of Fort Hare, Alice EASTERN CAPE
2011- Nominated in the SATMA AWARDS 2011 in the BEST CULTURAL ORGANISATION CATEGORY
2012- Participated in the SOUTH AFRICAN DANCE FOUNDATION competition held in Mmabana
2013- Rehearsed a musical theatre production called TSELANA AND SANKATANA
2013- Recorded the second album titled RICHANG
2013- Nominated in the Golden Shield Heritage Awards held in Bloemfontein
2014- Nominated in the Best Setswana Album Category SATMA AWARDS 2014
2014- Nominated in the Best Downloaded Song Category SATMA AWARDS 2014
2015- Released their second album titled Richang
2015- Staged and performed to full house a musical theatre production titled TSELANE AND SANKATANA with a meaningful contribution from the community
2016- Nominated in the Golden Shield Heritage Awards held in Kimberly in the Voice of Heritage Category
2017- Winner in the Golden Shield Heritage Awards 2017 in the Voice of Heritage Awards
2017- Nominee in the Satma Awards 2017 in the Best Setswana Album Category with the third album titled Motho Wa me
2018- Nominee in the Satma Awards 2018 in the Best Setswana Album Category
2019- Nominee in the SAMA 25 Music Awards in the Best Traditional Album Category
2019- Nominee in the Satma 14 Awards in the Best Setswana Album Category
2019- Nominee in the Satma 14 Awards in the Best Traditional Artist Of The Year
Motho Wa Me:
2020- Nominees in the SAMA AWARDS 26 in the Best Traditional Album Category

Smart Url: https://backl.ink/45940423

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/albums/B07WSDJ94G?ref=dm_sh_9cc5-765e-dmcp-4c52-8e3b5&musicTerritory=US&marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Tswelelang_Cultural_Dancers_Motho_Wa_Me?id=Bojmwo7p4u2uiw4252sn2rwjbv4

Tidal: https://listen.tidal.com/album/115809334

iTunes: https://music.apple.com/in/album/motho-wa-me-ep/1477062160

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/in/album/motho-wa-me-ep/1477062160?i=1477062160

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/43EHQiuSSb2FJrAysssbJO

Deezer: http://www.deezer.com/album/107989832

Deezer: http://www.deezer.com/album/107162182
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/5p6c6MlOtZhOkG68tdoVnX
Tidal: https://listen.tidal.com/album/115234681/track/115234682
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bioma2soa564di77lanzbil7tza&tid=song-Tbviecicwkfh3y5tukpsatycwme
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/albums/B07WLYQ569?ref=dm_sh_bf46-19cb-dmcp-ee9b-eba08&musicTerritory=US&marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER
iTunes: https://music.apple.com/in/album/vuma-feat-manqonqo-single/1476242185
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/in/album/vuma-feat-manqonqo-single/1476242185

Please find below the links for Motho Wa Me album.

Motho Wa Me:

Smart Url: https://backl.ink/45940423

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/albums/B07WSDJ94G?ref=dm_sh_9cc5-765e-dmcp-4c52-8e3b5&musicTerritory=US&marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Tswelelang_Cultural_Dancers_Motho_Wa_Me?id=Bojmwo7p4u2uiw4252sn2rwjbv4

Tidal: https://listen.tidal.com/album/115809334

iTunes: https://music.apple.com/in/album/motho-wa-me-ep/1477062160

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/in/album/motho-wa-me-ep/1477062160?i=1477062160

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/43EHQiuSSb2FJrAysssbJO

Deezer: http://www.deezer.com/album/107989832

Deezer: http://www.deezer.com/album/107162182
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/5p6c6MlOtZhOkG68tdoVnX
Tidal: https://listen.tidal.com/album/115234681/track/115234682
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bioma2soa564di77lanzbil7tza&tid=song-Tbviecicwkfh3y5tukpsatycwme