Asanda Ruda

Asanda Ruda is a visionary South African choreographer and performer whose work pulses with the rhythms of memory, resistance, and reclamation. From the community halls of Soweto, where her journey in dance first took root, to some of the most esteemed stages across the globe, Ruda has developed a choreographic language that is both deeply personal and powerfully political.

Her movement vocabulary is steeped in history—drawing from ancestral memory, Black feminist thought, and embodied forms of emancipation. A former member of the internationally renowned Pina Bausch Foundation, Ruda toured extensively across Europe, where her performances were marked by their emotional intensity and technical precision. It was during these formative years that she refined her interdisciplinary approach, blending contemporary dance with ritual, storytelling, and socio-political commentary.

Her critically acclaimed solo work, Kemet (Black Lands), marked a major milestone in her career. Developed during a residency at HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts, as part of a biennial Pan-African cultural initiative, Kemet explores themes of Black identity, land, and spiritual reclamation. The piece captivated audiences with its raw physicality and haunting poetics, establishing Ruda as one of the most compelling new voices in dance.

Ruda’s artistic journey continued to traverse in 2024, when she participated in the Itrotra Art x Connection’s Tokoloho Training Programme. This experience deepened her engagement with collaborative and cross-cultural artistic practices, reinforcing her commitment to transformative, community-rooted artmaking.

Currently, Ruda is furthering her research and creative practice in Paris as part of the Centre national de la danse x Cité internationale des arts residency. Her time in France marks yet another step in her ever-expanding artistic journey, as she continues to forge connections between the local and the global, the past and the future. As she carves out space for new narratives within the world of contemporary dance, Ruda remains rooted in her community origins—guided by the belief that movement is not just expression, but transformation.

Moeketsi Koena

Moeketsi Koena is a visionary choreographer, performer, and cultural innovator redefining African contemporary dance. As Co-founder and Managing Director of Itrotra Art X Connection, he leads a dynamic platform that champions cross-cultural artistic exchange across the globe. His distinctive choreographic voice blends South African Hip Hop (Kwaito), traditional African movement, and Western contemporary dance into bold, expressive works. With a passion for collaboration, Koena seamlessly integrates dance with music, theatre, and visual art.

Koena's global footprint includes performances and teaching engagements across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the USA. He has worked with leading institutions such as Moving into Dance, Pretoria Technikon, and the Royal Academy of Dance. A celebrated artist, he is a multi-time FNB Vita Award nominee and winner of Most Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer. He also serves as Executive Producer of Hlakwana Pitseng, a vibrant monthly platform showcasing
diverse live and curated artistic experiences.