Kitty Phetla, The Mind and Discipline Behind the Grace [EPISODE 100]

From the township of Alexandra to the grandest stages in the world, Kitty Phetla has redefined what it means to be a South African ballerina. Trained under the legendary Martin Schönberg, and now a celebrated choreographer, educator, and creative collaborator, Phetla has built her life around the belief that discipline is grace made visible.

In this milestone 100th episode of Listen To Your Footsteps,she sits down with Kojo Baffoe to reflect on the mental, physical, and spiritual architecture of her art. It’s a conversation about power disguised as poise, and the unseen work behind effortless beauty.

Together, they explore:

• The moment a nine-year-old girl from Alexandra was “discovered” and how that encounter shaped her destiny.
• Why she believes mastery is born from respect, not passion.
• How pain, repetition, and stillness form the language of her movement.
• What it means to teach in a YouTube generation while remaining true to classical rigour.
• The creative alchemy behind her collaborations with jazz pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, where dance becomes spiritual improvisation.
• Why recognition, like her Wall of Fame star, still feels secondary to purpose.

This is not a story about fame or success; it’s about becoming non-human in pursuit of mastery, where pain turns to rhythm, and the mind moves long before the body does.

Whether you know Kitty Phetla from the stage, the studio, or the airwaves, this episode reveals the woman behind the grace: focused, disciplined, and forever in motion.

Listen now on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Afripods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can find the latest from Kitty Phetla on the following platforms:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠| ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Recorded at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vodcast TV⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Show Music by Kweku 'Taygo' Baffoe

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ayob Vania