Ellen Mlangeni

Dancer

Born in 1952 Ellen started practising dance in 1986. The year 1991 witnessed the formation of the extremely popular Bulawayo-based all-female dance group Thandanani Women’s Ensemble Cultural Dance group with Ellen at the helm.

Performing at weddings, school events and other Government events like Independence and Heroes day celebrations saw the cultural group scaling greater heights in popularity. Under the tutelage of Ellen Mlangeni, a versatile and talented dancer, the group represented Zimbabwe at cultural exchange events in Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland.

Representing Bulawayo province, the group was a regular participant at the Chibuku NeShamwari Traditional Dance and iNgwebu competitions. As part of the group, Ellen also helped in educating children at schools and students at universities in keeping the Zimbabwean culture alive and known to younger generations

Exuding rare aesthetic talent, she starred at a Warner Brothers film called The Power of One in 1991.

Further cementing her artistic prowess, Ellen also starred in local dramas such as ISithembo by Ernest Ndlovu, Stitcher by Cont Mhlanga, Omunye Umncwabo by Cont Mhlanga, Isililo, Thuba Lami by Raisedon Baya and Kings Kraal by Raisedon Baya again that were all aired on ZBC TV. Flaunting that artistic finesse in acting, she featured prominently in foreign films like Another Wedding, Road to Jacaranda and Women Can Make Better in Business written by Christopher Mabhena.

Not content with dancing and acting only, Ellen is also an accomplished storyteller, an activity she undertakes concurrently with teaching traditional dances in primary schools like Gampu, Khumalo, Henry Law and Mpumelelo amongst others including Mpopoma High school.

Ellen is a regular feature in corporate advertisements in the mould of iNgwebu, Yellow phone (Econet). She scooped a gold medal as the best supporting actress upon participating in the Geraldine Roche Drama Competition.

The name Ellen Mlangeni is synonymous with the perseveration of culture, particularly the Ndebele culture as expressed through dance. Many young female dancers are greatly inspired by the accomplishments that Ellen has achieved to date. In terms of dance, her remarkable skills cover instructing, directing and actual performance.— NACZ.