About The Founder

Itumeleng Sam Hlapane

Itumeleng Sam Hlapane is a Founder and Managing Director of Rhythm Arts Dimension cc, performer and teacher at Moving Into Dance Mophatong, choreographer, vocalist, director and Arts and culture teacher. In his nine years of experience in the performing arts sphere he has filled the roles of a performer, choreographer, teacher, artistic adviser, and managing director for different art companies and organizations. As young as he is, he has numerous awards under his name as a dancer and choreographer, his first two awards in 2003 for most outstanding choreography (HEART AND MIND) and best male dancer in contemporary and African dance styles for Freedom Tree Arts Festival in Vaal. And four years later he was awarded by the FNB Dance Umbrella and Gauteng MEC for most promising male dancer for 2007-2008 in contemporary dance. From there he was subsequently invited to teach and choreograph for different dance companies including ZAPAC dance season with a Canadian dace company, and then later became a resident choreographer for Vaal sounds.

His dance training began with Sonqoba cultural group in 2000 as a performer where he later became an associate artistic director and choreographer. He joined Moving Into Dance Community Dance Teachers Training Course, which equips graduates, inter alia, to integrate academic subjects with dance. Itumeleng graduated from this course in 2004. He was invited to join Moving Into Dance Performing Company as a trainee/aspirant dancer; before the year ended he was employed as a full time company member and toured nationally and internationally with the company.

His talent and dedication saw him where his range of responsibilities were increased from a performer to teaching MID’s signature style of Afrofusion to Open class and lecturing MID Performing Arts Training Course as part of faculty where all of his classes are met with enthusiasm.

He has been featured by more than 15 award winning choreographers and teachers, including Sylvia Glasser, Sibonakaliso Ndaba, Gregory Maqoma, Themba Nkabinde, David April, Vincent Mantsoe, Thabo Rapoo, Michel Kelemenis, Kitty Phetla and many more. His talents do not only end at dance stages and studios but goes beyond the dance sector, in 2004-2005 he acted at National Geographic Channel on EVOLUTION OF HUMAN KIND.

In 2006 he recorded a music album with Vaal Sounds and was an artistic adviser for Moroka Swallows cheerleaders. And in 2007 he choreographed for more than 7000 dancers for Gauteng Carnival.