Soweto will turn movement into solidarity this October as dancers, survivors and families unite to raise funds for a young woman battling breast cancer in Johannesburg.
The Nomsa Manaka Foundation, in partnership with Soweto Theatre, will host its annual Three-Hour Dancing Out of Cancer Dance Marathon on Saturday, 24 October 2026, using dance as a platform for awareness, community support and practical assistance.
The event forms part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is designed to bring survivors, caregivers, families and community members together while raising funds for people facing the financial burden of cancer treatment.
This year, the marathon will directly support 30-year-old stage three breast cancer patient Priya Ndlovu.
Ndlovu will share her personal treatment journey during a live performance after the three-hour dance marathon, giving participants an opportunity to hear directly from someone experiencing the physical, emotional and financial realities of cancer.
Proceeds from the event will help contribute towards her treatment and medical costs.
For Nomsa Manaka, founder of the Nomsa Manaka Foundation, the event carries deeply personal meaning.
“I survived cancer twice and know firsthand what it’s like to go through brutal chemotherapy and the financial cost associated with getting treatment,” Manaka said.
“The foundation wants to help Priya in raising needed funds that can help her get lifesaving treatment before it’s too late. No one should suffer alone; we must support one another.”
The marathon will feature four professional dance instructors leading 45-minute sessions across different styles, including Amapiano, Sepantsula, traditional dance and aerobics.
The format is deliberately inclusive.
No previous dance experience is required, and people of different ages and fitness levels are encouraged to participate at a pace that feels comfortable.
While the event is built around movement, its social impact goes far beyond fitness.
It creates a space where awareness, fundraising and community care intersect, demonstrating how cultural institutions and community organisations can use their platforms to respond to health challenges in practical ways.
Breast cancer treatment can place significant pressure on households, particularly where medical procedures, transport, medication and time away from work create additional financial burdens.
Events such as Dancing Out of Cancer help convert public awareness into direct support for someone navigating that journey.
Soweto Theatre General Manager Maurice Lesumo said the partnership reflects the theatre’s wider responsibility to the community it serves.
“As Soweto Theatre we are proud to partner with the Nomsa Manaka Foundation on this important breast cancer awareness initiative,” Lesumo said.
“This partnership is about recognising that Soweto Theatre is more than a building where we come to watch performances. We are part of the community, and we have a responsibility to use our platform for issues that affect the people we serve.”
He added that awareness remains important because it can encourage people to pay closer attention to their health, understand the importance of early detection and seek medical assistance when they notice changes.
For the Nomsa Manaka Foundation and Soweto Theatre, the event is therefore both symbolic and practical.
Participants will dance in support of those still undergoing treatment, in memory of those who have died and in solidarity with families carrying the emotional and financial weight of cancer.
The Three-Hour Dancing Out of Cancer Dance Marathon takes place from 10:00 to 13:00 on Saturday, 24 October 2026, at the Soweto Theatre Forecourt, corner Bolani Link and Bolani Road, Jabulani, Soweto.
Entrance is R100.
