Mt­hu­thu­zelí No­vem­ber

Mthuthuzeli November, born in Cape Town, South Africa began dancing at the age of 15 and graduated from Cape Academy of Performing Arts in 2014. He began his choreographic career with the Cape Dance Company in 2014, joining Ballet Black in 2015. Since then, Mthuthuzeli has created several award-nominated and award-winning works and roles for stage and film around the world, including the Laurence Olivier Award-winning "INGOMA" in 2019/20.

Mthuthuzeli choreographed and performed for British artist Stormzy at the Glastonbury Festival in 2019. He was also commissioned by Cape Town Opera and Cape Town City Ballet to choreograph a film production of Pergolesi’s "Stabat Mater". In 2022, he was nominated for Best Soloist in a Production at the Black British Theatre Awards and for Best Classical Choreography at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards for his work "The Waiting Game". He won Best Choreography at the Black British Theatre Awards 2023 for his work "Nina: By Whatever Means", created for Ballet Black. Most recently winner of the Benois de la danse award in 2025, winning best dance film and Nominated for Best Classical Choreography by National Dance Awards 2026.

Mthuthuzeli November continues to create and stage works worldwide collaborating with the Paris Opera Ballet, Washington Ballet, the Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet, TanzLuzern, Cape Town City Ballet, Ballett Zürich. Ballet am Rhein, Staats Ballett Karlsruhe, Cape Ballet Africa,Dutch National Ballet, Gibney Company and Joburg Ballet. In 2025, Mthuthuzeli was appointed Charlotte Ballet’s Resident Choreographer, where he has created 3 world premieres "From Africa with Love" (2023), "Vibes and Variations" (2024) and "As I Am" (2025).

Photo © Zui Gomez