Finding My Own Rhythm by Motsi Mabuse

At first you might wonder, if I don't dance or watch Strictly, what does this celebrity autobiography have to offer? (Motsi Mabuse is a champion dancer and one of the judges on Britain's Strictly Come Dancing). But even as someone who doesn't watch huge amounts of TV (as for dancing, I'd love to learn), I found it a very engaging book, primarily because Motsi herself is such an engaging person. Her story and that of her family growing up under Apartheid was fascinating – especially seen from the eyes of a child, in that particular state of unknowing, half-knowing, knowing. 

Her competitive drive really came through, as well as her exuberant, and I think it's fair to say also sensitive character. We see this not only in how she came to be a dancer (a story told with great love and affection), but also in her school days, and the professional (and sometimes romantic) interactions with her dance partners. The trials and tribulations of moving to a new country where you speak little of the language for love, is perhaps, something that a fair few of us can identify with, as are the highs and lows of an artistic career. I would have enjoyed more technical information about dance (even as I write that, how hard must it be to put in words something so driven by the body and emotion), but what certainly wasn't lacking was an uplifting story of struggle, hard work and well-earned success, with a positive and likeable protagonist who isn't spared a certain amount of human drama. 

Motsi Mabuse wrote her autobiography Chili im Blut: Mein Tanz durchs Leben with Regina Carstensen, published by Bastei Lübbe in 2013. I translated this for Ebury Spotlight during 2021. Motsi Mabuse updated the book – Finding My Own Rhythm – with her years in England and it was published by Ebury Spotlight on 8 September 2022.

UPDATE: As I was translating Finding My Own Rhythm, I enjoyed looking up Motsi's 80s South African pop songs. So why not share?