He started training classically at the age of 16 at the National School of the Arts the supervision of the late Danelle Crous, Manual Norambuena, and Lauren Jones, receiving full colors in performance at the end of his graduating year in 2009.
Post matriculating, he was requested by directors Andile Stali and Kebu Mwale to choreograph the National School of the Arts main musical Sarafina, staged at their annual Festival of Fame in 2010. In 2011 he went on to further his studies in dance at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), majoring in performance and choreography, graduating in 2013.
Whilst at the TUT he was awarded the Kelsey Middleton floating trophy for Best Contemporary dancer in 2012 and 2013, and Best Choreography for his final exam work titled, and the soft voices die.
Thami Tshabalala is also currently creating his own work and employing artists to further his own personal achievements and playing his part in giving back to the industry which he so clearly loves.
Additionally, he premiered his fourth independent work titled Petticoat Princess at the inauguration of the dance season Joburg Moves, hosted by the University of Johannes burg in April of 2024. Post his international return in June 2024, he was requested to be part of the adjudicating panel for Dance Fusion Competition, seeing through the best dancers to represent South Africa at the finals in Australia, November 2024.