Samwel Japhet is a Tanzanian dance artist, choreographer and social entrepreneur, who found his voice through dance after a rough childhood of homelessness and abuse. He uses dance as artistic expression for story-telling and an invitation to transcendence and critical reflection on the realities of our times, and the political world. Nearly a decade, he has been exploring the intersection of dance, storytelling, and social issues. His fascination with human relationships and our connection to the world is central to his work, he extends choreographic practices by combining dance with visual storytelling, real-life experiences, text, music and dialogue to reflect on the dynamics between individuals and society. His work has toured festivals and theaters in the Netherlands, South Korea, Israel, South Africa, Portugal, Mozambique, Germany, Ethiopia, and beyond.
He is a recipient of the 2021 Seed Award from the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development and is a 2024-2026 Global Fellow with The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown University. A graduate of the MUDA Africa Dance School in Tanzania, he co-managed UMOJA, a multidisciplinary residency programme for East African and European artists, from 2021 to 2022. In 2015, he co-founded Nantea Dance Company, a Tanzanian non-profit that produces multifaceted performances and community-based projects. Through his work, he strives to address global challenges and build a culture where art not only reflects reality but also inspires new possibilities.
