MOYA Michael, 36, was precocious from the age of eight. She had the chutzpah and courage to let dance take her where it must.

JOHANNESBURG

DANCE UMBRELLA AT THIS MOMENT, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, NOW, NOW

Where: Dance Factory, NewtownWhen: March 1 and 2

Her new work, which will be performed as part of SA's contemporary dance platform, Dance Umbrella, is her first since the birth of her daughter, Kezia, eight months ago. She promises, with a deep laugh, that it will differ from anything you might expect of her.

"My body is still totally weird," she said in a phone interview from her home in Brussels. "I would never have moved like this. It is scary and wonderful. Before, I was too afraid to let go."

Trained in Eldorado Park in the Cecchetti ballet method by Di Sparks, Michael joined the Johannesburg Youth Ballet at 13. She trained at Pretoria Technikon and won a scholarship to PARTS, the prestigious performance school in Brussels, where she met her key collaborators, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker and Akram Khan. She became a founding member of Khan's London-based company after graduating. In 2003, she was Standard Bank's Young Artist for Dance.

"Moya left the country in the 1990s," recalls Georgina Thomson, artistic director of Dance Umbrella. "She was a spectacular dancer. Last year, I was in Europe and spent time with her. I decided to bring her back to show what she's up to. I know that since her marriage and baby, her whole direction has changed."

Michael explains her piece, at this moment, right here, right now, right here, right now, now, now:

"I speak as a woman living far from home, in a dance world predominated by men. My work is personal, but not autobiographical. I've been 15 years out of the country. People don't believe I am from Africa. Many speak of being black or white under apartheid. Not many speak of being in between.

"It's scary to be dancing again. People know me from my dancing with top companies. The virtuosic me that was, is now a mother.

"Before you put a toe in the studio, you must explain to Dance Umbrella a work that exists only in your head. But, then," she laughs, "how often do you go through a dance performance and know what it's about? Even if you're dancing it yourself."

• For more info about the Dance Umbrella, which is running at various venues in Joburg, see artslink.co.za/arts or phone 082 570 3083