Paul`s Profile

C R E AT I V E D I R E C TO R & C H O R E O G R A P H E R F O R :
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IBSA Summit (India)
SABC Crown Gospel Awards (SA)
Namibian Annual Music Awards (Namibia)
Big Brother Africa (Africa)
South African Year in China Closing Ceremony in Beijing (China)
Gauteng Sport Awards (SA)
“Hear Me Move” Film (SA's 1st made for cinema dance film)
PAUL MODJADJI IS THE
BRAND AMBASSADOR OF
THE CITY OF TSHWANE,
SOUTH AFRICA’S
CAPITAL CITY
www.paulmodjadji.com
“Start
where
you are,
with the
little that
you
have”.
ABOUT
AWA R D S & P E R S O N A L AC C O M P L I S H M E N T S
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DA N C E R & AC TO R
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CHOREOGRAPHER
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ENTREPRENEUR
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S O C I A L D E V E L O P M E N T WO R K
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W R I T E R & S P E A K E R - WO R K S H O P FAC I L I TATO R & M C
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C O N TAC T D E TA I L S
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“Your
attitude
determines
your
altitude”.
Paul Modjadji, born on the 10th September in the township of
Hammanskraal, Tshwane, South Africa, is a dancer, choreographer,
writer, author, social developer and entrepreneur.
with Intec College. In the same year Modjadji was selected to be
part of the South African team that Represented South Africa at
the World Dance Championships in Germany.
Though he grew up in a community he describes as having no
resources for a rambunctious young person who wanted to dance,
act and express his creative talents, the young Modjadji learned
to use family gatherings as a platform for him to share his creative
talents and the television as his training studio to hone his skills. It
was thanks to hit television movies Fame and Sarafina that the
young Modjadji first made sense of exactly where he wanted his
life to go. Modjadji remembers years of being the only person in
his class who did not want to be a doctor, teacher or policeman.
The following year Modjadji would begin juggling his passion for
dancing with writing. Securing his first television-script writing job
with one of the Public Broadcaster DIY shows “Iketsetse”. In 2008
Modjadji was commissioned by the Department of Arts and Culture
to oversee the choreography of South Africa's presentation at the
IBSA summit in India. Giving him an opportunity to work with Brazilian
and Indian dancers.
Modjadji's future in the arts was sealed when he scored a scholarship
to attend the Dansevaerkstedet Dance Foundation in Denmark,
straight after his matric year. His passion for dance and story telling
through the arts later caught the attention of the Washington DC
based Global Young Leaders Congress, who awarded him with
the Global Young Leaders Award in 2002.
After a year in Denmark Modjadji returned home to study with the
Tshwane University of Technology Dance Department. In his second
year of studying Modjadji auditioned and landed a role on the
popular South African Youth Soap “Backstage”, where he was
offered a year long contract. Being a cast member of the popular
soapie was the first of many dreams realized for the young South
African talent with global aspirations.
By 2005 Modjadji who started writing during his high school years,
graduated with his qualification in Journalism and Media studies,
In 2010 Modjadji who had registered his then 3-year-old media
and entertainment company, Imvula Pula Entertainment,
graduated with a project management qualification from the
Faisit Business College.
It was however not until 2011 that Modjadji would make world
history by becoming the first African to win the European World
Dance Championships in the Solo Jazz category.
On his return home, the dancer who only received formal training
in his latter years, immediately established his community
development project under the Dare to Dream banner. A project
that gives performance arts workshops and training to communities
such as his hometown, Hammanskraal.
In 2012 Modjadji became the first South African young artist to win
the South African Youth Award, for the Arts and Entertainment
category.
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“It's not where you come from that matters
but where you are going”.
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2014: RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENT: Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans list.
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2014: RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENT: Appointed the Africa/South Africa Ambassador for the prestigious European Star Dance Union (ESDU)at a ceremony in Brazil,
February 2014.
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2014: RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENT: Lands a lead role on the short film "The Return of a Monster".
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2014: RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENT: Appointed Choreographer for the Namibian Annual Music Awards, 2014. Airing live on NBC.
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2014: RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENT: Project manages the South African 20 Years of Freedom Song Project (titled “An Ideal”), and is the only dance soloist to be
featured in the music video showcasing 20 of South Africa's prolific singers.
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2014: RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENT: Appointed Creative director/Choreographer for the 2014 Gauteng Sports Awards.
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2013/2014: Appointed head choreographer for Africa's first made-for-cinema dance film “Hear Me Move”. The Film showcases at Cannes Film Festival in 2014
and, invited to screen at the ESDU Dance Festival in Croatia in the same year. “Hear Me Move” is due for Release at SADC cinemas in December 2014.
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2013: Awarded the 2013/2014 Golden Shield National Heritage Award under the Youth National Heritage Advocate category.
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2013: Lands a 10 minute segment on Africa's biggest breakfast show - The Good Morning Africa Show, on Africa Magic Channel (Channel 154 on DSTV). Broadcast
to 250 million viewers across 49 countries in Africa.
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2013: Embarks on a national tour with the Daring to Dream movement. Partnering with one of South Africa's top NGO's Khulisa, reaching more than a 1000
young people across South Africa, daring them to have a dream.
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2013: Appointed brand ambassador for South Africa’s capital city, Tshwane.
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2013: Crowned Adult Top dancer and awarded the Waves of Movement special award, an award given to the overall outstanding dancer, at the 40th Annual
Talent America Showcase in New York, 2013
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2013: Received the 2013 Architect of Society Award, at the 2013 Joan Modibeng - The Real Architects of Society event.
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2013: Became the first dancer to make the cover of Business Magazine Kick-Start, and features in their October issue, 2013.
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2013: Commissioned to choreograph South Africa's first made-for-cinema dance movie, ‘Hear me Move’, under Coal Stove Productions. Pre-production
for the film set for release in 2014 is underway.
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2013: Coached 19 year old Katlego Moela of Maubane, Hammanskraal. He was crowned the 2013 ESDU Hip Hop World Dance Champion in Croatia,
May 2013. Katlego Moela is a beneficiary of the Dare To Dream Mentorship programme.
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2013: Releases Keeping my Core Intact, the story of Adelaide Matlejoane, a book he has been authoring for more than 5 years, and begins drafting
his second book and first Self help book “ 101 ways to be taken seriously in the professional world, a handbook for the youth of Mzansi”.
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2013: Lands the research and scriptwriter job on the new hit travel magazine show, Vaya Mzansi, presented by DJ Cleo and DJ Angie, (SABC1). Giving the World
traveller an opportunity to discover and promote South Africa to South Africans.
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2012: Becomes the first South African young artist to win a South African Youth Awards, Arts and Entertainment category, at the inaugural award show.
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2012: Appointed the ESDU South African Liaison by the Austrian based organization.
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2011: Straight from being crowned World Dance Champion and inspired by a book he read when he was 16 by Doctor Felicia Mabuza - Suttle, Dare to
Dream, launches his youth development project under the Dare to Dream Art Workshops banner.
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2011: Becomes the first African to win the ESDU World Dance Championship: Jazz Division (at the prestigious World Competition in Croatia).
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2010: Graduates with a project management qualification from Faissit business college
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2008: Appointed by the South African Department of Arts and Culture to represent South Africa at the IBSA Summit in India as Dancer and Choreographer
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2005: Represented South Africa at the World Dance Championships held in Bremen, Germany
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2005: Graduates with a Journalism & Media studies qualification from Intec College
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2003: Is accepted into the Tshwane University of Technology dance programme.
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2002: Recipient of the Global Young Leaders Award - from the Washington DC based Global Young Leaders Organization
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2002: Recipient of the Danish Dansevaerkstedet Dance Scholarship Award
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Performances in Theatre Productions:
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Lead dancer: Nick Boje's Halekem and Columbine Denmark's Tivoli Theatre
Lead dancer: African Dream
Lead dancer: Sleeping Beauty, lead dancer Tshwane Youth Dance Company
Dancer: Dance Umbrella - Burst Out Performing Arts
Dancer: You can't stop the music - Performance Musical
Performances in Educational Theatre:
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Actor: Walking Tall (The story of human evolution)
Actor: Royco reach for the stars Road Show
Performances as “live” Backing Dancer:
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Mina Nawe
Maduvha (Actress on SABC 2's Muvhango)
Bongani Nxumalo (94.7's Radio Personality)
Performances for Television:
Performances - Corporate Shows:
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Dancer & Performer: Opening and Closing Ceremonies,
2010 FIFA World Cup
Dancer & Performer: Hyundai Open Day Concert
Dancer & Performer: Bongani Nxumalo's CD launch
Dancer: Crux (SABC 1) - Christmas show hour special
Dancer & Actor: Backstage (E-TV) - One year contract
Dance Finalist: Obama (Channel O) - Reality dance show
Guest Judge: YO-TV's Groova - Dance show
Dancer: Mina Nawe 'Njalo' - music video
Dancer: Jolene- music video
Dancer: Bongane Nxubeka 'Time to dance' - music video
Dancer: Bongane Nxubeka 'Back for good' - music video
Guest Choreographer: Jika Majika (SABC 1) - 2 seasons
Dancer: Jam Alley (SABC 1)- End of year episode
Dancer: Metro Awards (SABC 1) -Televised Live TV Award show
Dancer: SABC Sports(SABC 1, 2 & 3) - Coverage of Battle of the Giants Final
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Dancer: Afro fusion fashion show
Dancer: MTN Promotional tour
Dancer: OXYDO Promotional tour
Dancer: Old Mutual Awards
Dancer and Main Character “Mo”: Vodacom “Mo” National Tour (1 yr contract)
Dancer: Castrol Auto Show
Dancer: Peter Stuyvesent 100th anniversary
Dancer: Discovery End of Year Function
Dancer: Eskom Awards
Dancer: Various National Rugby matches
Dancer: The City of Johannesburg luncheon
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“I believe in the
transferral of skills
and knowledge
to others and
what better way
than to compose
dance routines
for the world
to see”.
Paul's choreographic works have been performed by dancers
both at home and abroad.
Examples of work include:
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The Namibian Annual Music Awards
Tribe One Dinokeng Music Festival Launch
& Press Conference
The Danish Fundraising Concert (Denmark)
The IBSA Summit (2008)
Miss Soweto (2009)
Afro Fusion Fashion Show
“One Night Only” with Mazet Sun International Cabaret (2011)
YFM Client's Party
The Diva's Fashion Show
Miss Confidence SA 2006 & 2008
The 2011 SABC Crown Gospel Awards
Rorisang and Julie - Stage musical
NYDA Limitless Youth Campaign Promo Flash
Mob (2013)
Big Brother Africa
“Girls gone Wild” Cabaret Production Sun International (2013)
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“Hear me Move” - SA Made-for-Cinema
feature film
“Desperate Single Girls” - Cabaret for Sun
International (Meropa Casino, 2013)
Big Brother Africa Chase. Choreographing for
various African artists including:
- D. Prince (Nigeria)
- Sunnyboy (Namibia)
- Ice - Prince (Nigeria)
- Kaakie (Ghana)
- Wakazi (Tanzania)
Choreographing the Coca-Cola (SA/Africa)
advert (2014)
Overseeing creative direction and
choreography of the South African year in China
closing ceremony in Beijing, an event by the
Department of Arts and Culture South Africa
and the office of the presidency (2014)
Creative directing the Chinese New Year Kongfu
show at the Lyric theatre. (2015)
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Realising the importance of formalizing his creative outlets and protecting his creative
intellectual property, Modjadji registered Imvula Pula Entertainment in 2006.
The project and entertainment related service provider company has since established itself as a solid entertainment
and media house that oversees both local and international projects. Last year the company, under the project
management lead of Paul Modjadji was appointed as the South African talent scouts for the Austrian based
European Star Dance Union organization. Locally the company has overseen projects for legends such as the
Yvonne Chaka Chaka Motherland Tour, as well as the Madonna of Africa Brenda Fassie tribute musical “Mabrrr”.
Some of our projects over the years include:
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Project manager/Coordinator for the “20 Years of Freedom” song project commissioned by the
Department of Arts and Culture. Titled “#ANIDEAL”. Overseeing the music recording as well music video
and documentary filming
Talent manager for SA's Princess of R&B - Lungi Naidoo and the immensely talented Leandro Coimbra
The Gauteng Arts and Culture Council World Cup art workshops (Program coordinator) 2011
Waterfront (CT) and Melrose Arch (JHB) FIFA 2010 World cup PVA (Artist programmme coordinator)
Yvonne Chaka Chaka's motherland tour (Project Management services)
Art administration Facilitator (Faissit College) 2009
Lcat productions- (Concept developer)
Sun international Meropa Casino - (Cabaret producer)
Artist manager for R&B singer Lungi, Television personality Rhulani Baloyi, and Afro pop singer Mazet
(Lead vocalist for Mina Nawe)
Intimate night with Lulu Dikana at Bluesroom (event organizer/media liaison)
“I am
because
we are.
The
spirit of
Ubuntu”.
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Philanthropy work is at the core of Paul Modjadji's work.
His entire career is motivated by his passion for developing
young people in South Africa and helping to fly our country's
flag high. As part of his social development work Paul
oversees four successful youth development projects.
1) Dare to Dream Art workshops
Paul oversees the art workshops that are rendered for free to hundreds of
young South African youth over their school holidays. The Dare to Dream Art
Workshops are set up to live up to their objective of encouraging young people
to dream and to use their talents coupled with hard work to strive and reach
for their dreams. Using art disciplines such as drama, music, dance, film making
and writing, young people are given workshops to empower them and build
their self reliance.
2) Dare to Dream Youth Theatre Company
A project that doubles as a leadership programme and an incubator for young
people who show exceptional talent after our school holiday run workshops.
The youth theatre company is a year long programme that sees young talent
trained and then offered a platform to perform in front of an audience. This
year the Youth Company is preparing to open for what is going to be
Hammanskraal's first full on stage musical “Rorisang and Julie”. The young
performers are all really excited at the opportunity of performing on a high tech
stage with lights, sets, sound, make up and wardrobe. For many it is the stuff
they only see on television. This year the Dare to Dream Theatre Company
celebrates one of their talents win with an all expenses paid trip to Europe to
compete at an international dance competition.
3) Dare to Read Campaign
Launched in 2013, the Dare to Read campaign is endorsed y the NYDA, The City
of Tshwane, and Khulisa Social Solutions. The campaign seeks to encourage
young people to read as a form of empowerment. Having realized what books
could do for him, Paul was encouraged to share the knowledge with other young
people. “My biggest concern is seeing young people who despite their dream
of studying further have to settle for the reality of not having the financial means
to study further. Readily available literature is one of the ways I know for a fact
we as young people can arm ourselves with education about the world and
different fields of interest.” said Modjadji.
The Dare to Read Campaign was launched with a donation of books by South
African prolific writer Melinda Ferguson and Sarah Setlaelo, who donated copies
of the Kelly Khumalo story. A book that offers lessons for young people on the
lures and temptations of the entertainment industry, but most importantly a book
that shares the tale of one of South African star's story to reaching her dreams
and fighting her demons to come out triumphant on the other side.
4) Dare to Green Campaign
In May 2013 Paul joined hands with Khulisa Social Solutions, Anglo Gold Ashanti
and four other mining companies around Merafong to officially launch the Dare
to Green Campaign. A campaign that is geared towards educating and
promoting the practice of recycling and of being an environmentally conscious
society. The Dare to Green Campaign also promotes a spirit of being
entrepreneurial, as young people learn to create items from recycled waste that
they can sell for a profit.
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With his extensive background in various sectors
Modjadji is also a sought after speaker and writer
as well as workshop facilitator and MC who is often
booked to speak on various subjects ranging from
leadership to project management.
“A journey of a million miles
begins with one step”.
Some of his speaking engagements include:
• Khabonina Qubeka's 30th Birthday party - MC
• Gauteng Organisation for Art Community Art Centers (GOMACC)
Theatre Festivals - (Programme Manager)
• AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony Gold’s Launch of the
Merafong Waste Recycling Project - Speaker
• AIM Arts Academy Launch - Programme Director
• Faisit Business College Arts Administration Workshops - Facilitator
• Dare to Dream Art Workshops - Head Facilitator
His writing commissions include:
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Writer and researcher for the youth research company ‘Instant Grass’
Script writer for SABC 2's show ‘Iketsetse’ (2007 to 2009)
Insert Producer/ Script writer for SABC 2's Roots (2009)
2009 Feather's Awards Show Script writer
Move Magazine (Contribution writer)
• Sunday Times (Feature writer - 2008)
• ‘I had it all’ Documentary series - SABC 1 (Vinolia Mashigo episode
- 2011)
• Mother of all Professions - SABC2 - Research and Script writer
(2012 -2013)
• Vaya Mzansi - SABC 1 - (Season 1 & 2)
• Blaque Magazine - Contribution writer (2012)
• Loocha Magazine - Contribution writer (2012)
• Drum Magazine - Contributor (2013)
• Rorisang and Julie - Stage production - Writer (2012)
• Author: Keeping My Core Intact, the story of Adelaide Matlejoane
- (Release 2013)
• Author: “101 ways to be taken seriously in the professional world”
A Mzansi Youth must-have handbook. (Due for release in June 2015)
• Columnist for Kickstart Magazine - writing about arts, culture, travel
and lifestyle
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PAUL MODJADJI:
Mobile:
072 501 2315
Fax:
086 518 7029
Email:
paul.modjadji@gmail.com
paul@ipentertainment.co.za
Websites:
www.paulmodjadji.com
www.ipentertainment.co.za
www.daretodreammovement.com
Facebook: Paul Modjadji
Twitter:
PaulModjadji
YouTube:
PaulModjadjiArt
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