LIEZL ZWARTS — JOANNAHOLEWACHRONA

JOANNAHOLEWACHRONA

HOME AFIA LAND BEFORE TIME Phakathi Inside

Shuwana (deejay) Gallery VIDEOS CV CONTACT

HOME AFIA LAND BEFORE TIME Phakathi Inside

JOANNAHOLEWACHRONA

Shuwana (deejay)Gallery VIDEOS CV CONTACT

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JOANNA

**Dancer | Choreographer | Project leader | DJ**

Joanna Holewa Chrona is a Swedish dancer, choreographer, project leader and Dj located in Sweden and South Africa. Her dance practice is based on several movement traditions: from the technically demanding, and political dance styles popping from the United States to isiPantsula, Sabar and Afro-Cuban dance from South Africa, Senegal and Cuba. During the last twelve years Joanna has participated as a dancer in a number of larger and smaller productions, both nationally and internationally. Since 2020, the focus has been on her own produced stage performances and festivals, exchanges and workshops. Joanna's aspirations and inspiration stem from the freedom, honesty, and purity of improvisation as well as from the transformative and healing power of dance, music, nature, and human connection.

Joanna's work is international and interdisciplinary and comes in different constellations. As previously mentioned, Joanna spends a lot of time in South Africa. This cultural exchange began in 2015 when Joanna traveled there to meet with Real Actions, a Pantsula dance company. That was only the start of a ten-year relationship, and her engagement has only increased since then, through her non-profit organization, AFIA. The ngo consists of board members from both Sweden and South Africa. AFIAS vision is to honor and celebrate African cultures and connecting people. Afia hosts an annual festival called ‘AFIA FESTIVAL’ (est 2016) that is celebrating South African culture.

Many of Joanna's works have South African-inspired music, lyrics, and movements. Joanna's interest lies in respectfully combining cultures and perspectives, always with the cooperation of all participating artists. One of AFIAS recent and still touring pieces is YEBO YES!, it is starring both artistic leaders/dancers Joanna and Theresa Gustavsson on stage together with co-creating dancers Sibusiso Mthembu, Patricia Mofokeng and David Mokale from South Africa.

A part from AFIA Joanna has formed a duo with Yared Tilahun Cederlund called LAND BEFORE TIME. Together they are performing both indoor and outdoor performances with a reoccuring theme of water and connection. They have developed a very unique and specific movement quality from their background in Streetdance and strong interest in water.

As of 2024/2025 Joanna is for the first time embarking a journey as a solo-choreographer and solo-dancer on stage with the piece “Phakathi Inside”.

As a DJ Joanna goes by the name of Shuwana and is continuing her relationship and interest for South African culture as she plays Afrotech and house music haling from South Africa.

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