Dada Masilo was born and raised in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. She began her formal dance training at The Dance Factory at the age of 11 and went on to study at the Performing Arts Research and Training Studios (PARTS) in Brussels.
In 2008, she received the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance. Her first major works – Romeo and Juliet (2008), Carmen (2009) and Swan Lake (2010) – were commissioned by the National Arts Festival and established her distinctive approach to reimagining classical narratives through contemporary dance.
Her subsequent works included Giselle, The Sacrifice and Hamlet, which premiered at Impulstanz Vienna in 2024. Her work has been presented internationally across Europe, the UK, Ireland and the USA, earning numerous accolades including a Bessie Award nomination in 2016 for Swan Lake, the Danza&Danza Award for Best Performance 2017 for Giselle, the Prince Claus Next Generation Award 2018 and the 2020 UK Critic’s Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Female Modern Performance in the title role as Giselle. In September 2024 she accepted an Italian lifetime achievement award for classic and contemporary dance at the Premio Positano Léonide Massine for the Art of Dance.
Dada Masilo passed away in December 2024, aged 39. Hamlet, her final work, continues to be presented internationally, honouring her extraordinary artistic legacy.
Quaternaire represents the work of Dada Masilo globally, outside of North America.
