At the time of her death, Mashiro was working on a new autobiographical solo work about the loss of a loved one.
The family of dancer and choreographer Dada Mashiro confirmed on Sunday evening that she passed away after a short illness.
“The Masilo family has requested privacy to honor Dada's memory during this tragic time,” their brief statement reads.
As recently as early December, 39-year-old Mashilo was given a star on the wall of the Soweto Theater alongside other respected South African artists.
“Thank you to Soweto Theater for celebrating and recognizing me. It means a lot to come from my hometown,” she asserted in a speech on social media.
“It was an awards ceremony at the Soweto Theatre, and it was also World AIDS Day, so I was remembering my aunt who died of AIDS.
“Usually I rehearse everything, including my speeches, but yesterday when I was handed the microphone, I thought, oh my aunt is here!”
“This was the first thing I asked her to buy, and she arrived safely yesterday,” she said, remembering her late aunt.
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Despite being just under 40 years old, Masilo's career has spanned more than 20 years, and she has created work that will outlive her time on earth.
Masilo first came to the attention of the dance industry in 1996, at the age of 11, when she was invited to dance for Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
She was educated at the National School of Art in Braamfontein and matriculated in 2002.
In 2003, she continued her training at the JazzArt Dance Theater under the direction of Alfred Hinkel in preparation for performance training at PARTS (Performing Arts Research and Training Studio) in Brussels, Belgium.
In 2006, she was hailed as the 'Most Promising Female Dance in Contemporary Style' by the Gauteng Arts and Culture MEC Awards jury and won the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance at the age of 22.
In 2016 she swan lake This work was nominated for the New York Bessie Award. One year later she Gisele He won the “Best Performance Award” at Italy's Danza&Danza Award, and in 2018 he won the Netherlands' Prince Claus 'Next Generation' Award 2018.
Throughout her illustrious career, she has collaborated with renowned artists from various fields, including William Kentridge, Anne Masina, Albert Sirindokufle Ibokwe Khoza, David April, PJ Sabaga, and renowned choreographer Gregory Makoma. I'm here.
Masilo has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Italian Lifetime Achievement Award for Classical and Contemporary Dance at the Premio Positano Leonid Massine Art of Dance in September 2024.
At the time of her death, Mashiro was working on a new autobiographical solo work about the loss of a loved one.
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