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With over 15 years of experience in the arts, Deborah Kabongo has carved an indelible mark on the dance world, combining cultural heritage, technical prowess, and a relentless drive for authenticity. Her journey began in the humble setting of Sunday school, where she was inspired by her older sister Miriam. By the age of 14, she had landed her first paying gig, a pivotal moment that set her on the path to becoming a professional dancer.
Kabongo’s unique style is deeply rooted in her Zimbabwean and Congolese heritage. “Congo is well known for its musical gurus who have unique, influential dances,” she shares. By fusing traditional movements like kwasa kwasa and ndombolo with Zimbabwean styles such as mbakumba and shangara, and blending them with modern dance, Kabongo creates choreography that is as rich in texture as it is evocative in emotion.
Her artistic reach extends beyond borders, with a career milestone in China that saw her sharing the stage with globally acclaimed crews such as Kinjaz and The Royal Family at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Shanghai. “Meeting your heroes has a way of boosting one’s confidence,” she recalls. “It strips away self-doubt and affirms the passion and hard work behind the dreams.”
Kabongo’s expertise in contemporary, free-flow motion, and movement therapy allows her to resonate with audiences on a profound level. “Dance is a universal language,” she explains. “Contemporary dance, in particular, explores universal emotions like love, loss, and identity. Its abstract nature invites audiences to interpret and connect on personal terms.” Her background in sports science and biomechanics adds a dynamic edge to her performances, ensuring that every movement is not only expressive but also physically optimized.
2024 brought Kabongo national acclaim when she won the NAMA Award for Outstanding Female Dancer. She also received a nomination for Outstanding Dance Choreographer, a testament to her emotion-driven approach. “I choreograph from feeling to motion,” she says. “The rhythm has to shape and form within me before it translates into movement.”
Beyond dance, Kabongo is a published poet and author, contributing to works like TESSERAE. For her, dance and poetry are intrinsically linked: “Dance is poetry in motion,” she asserts. Her writings often challenge the stigmatization of dancers in Zimbabwe, particularly the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles within the industry. “My poetry and style of dance make it okay to be a woman and an artist without feeling uncomfortable or stigmatized.”
A director of choreography at heart, Kabongo thrives in crafting performances that deliver the “full package,” from formations to stage outcomes. One standout example was her collaboration with award-winning poet Batsirai Chigama in 2022 for the launch of For Women Trying to Breathe, But Failing. The combination of poetry, acting, and dance created a vivid, emotional experience that left the audience deeply moved.
For bookers, Kabongo promises an unmatched dedication to excellence. “I invest a lot of time in perfecting stage performances,” she says. “From the look to the aura to the technique, it’s a full package.” Looking to the future, she dreams of collaborations with icons like Fatima Noir and Parris Goebel in dance, and Shonda Rhimes and Michael Bay in film.
At the core of her work lies a desire to leave audiences feeling “hopeful” and connected. “You’re never alone,” she says, a message that echoes through every poetic step of her journey.
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