While the spotlight at this year’s Metro FM Music Awards shone brightly on South Africa’s biggest stars, much of the night’s visual brilliance was shaped behind the scenes by one woman: choreographer and creative director Sne Mbatha.
Tasked with bringing the evening’s performances to life, Mbatha served as the official choreographer and director for the show, orchestrating the movement, staging and visual storytelling that transformed each performance into a full-scale spectacle.
The Woman Turning Music Into Motion
Mbatha’s role extended far beyond dance routines. As the creative architect behind the stage performances, she was responsible for translating sound into movement and ensuring each artist’s performance landed with both visual and emotional impact.
“We’re working with the artist, directing what they’re going to be doing on stage,” she explained. “We go into camera work, which angle the camera is going to be working with, and we accommodate that on stage. We fill out the space, shape the choreography and bring the creative concept to life.”
Her work sits at the intersection of choreography, stage design, live performance direction and visual storytelling, a role that requires balancing the vision of artists, producers and creative directors, while making sure every movement serves the larger performance.
From Concept to Camera: Building the Show Behind the Scenes
Mbatha revealed that her work on the Metro Awards involved far more than simply choreographing dance steps. Her responsibility was to build a full performance language for television, one that could translate seamlessly from the stage to the screen.
From blocking artists and dancers to coordinating camera angles and spatial movement, Mbatha played a critical role in shaping how audiences experienced the show both in the room and at home.
It is this behind-the-scenes precision that often goes unseen, yet it is what gives large-scale live productions their rhythm, cohesion and impact.
Gqom Is Her First Love
When asked which genre she most enjoys choreographing, Mbatha did not hesitate.
“Gqom,” she said without pause.
The answer speaks to her instinct for rhythm-heavy, high-energy movement and her deep connection to one of South Africa’s most physically expressive dance genres. It is a style that demands intensity, precision and power — all qualities that have become synonymous with Mbatha’s approach to movement direction.
A Quiet Power in South African Performance Culture
Though often understated in conversation, Mbatha’s influence on stage was impossible to miss.
Actor and performer Hungani Ndlovu, who accompanied her on the night, was quick to highlight just how significant her contribution was.
“What the choreographer does in this instance is bringing what you hear through your ears to your eyes,” said Ndlovu. “That’s such a big job because visually now we get to see and hear it. It magnifies everything.”
His praise underscored what many in live entertainment already understand: choreography is not just movement, it is translation. It is the art of turning music into something audiences can feel with their eyes.
Sne Mbatha Is Choreographing the Future
At a time when live performance is becoming increasingly immersive, cinematic and visually demanding, Sne Mbatha is proving herself to be one of the most important creative forces shaping how South African entertainment is seen and experienced.
