(Pic: “Body of Evidence” will be presented by Durban’s Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre)Durban’s Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre features on National Arts Festival’s dance programme.
Durban’s Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre features on the 2009 National Arts Festival’s dance programme. In Body of Evidence, choreographed by Jay Pather, Siwela Sonke ventures deep into the human interior to examine the scar tissue left by memories of violence and pain.
The ballet inevitably casts a magic spell over Festival audiences and the Cape Town City Ballet is back this year. Accompanied by The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, they present Paquita, a classical showcase with dancers in traditional tutus. This is followed by the romantic two-act La Sylphide set in the Scottish Highlands.
The 2009 Standard Bank Young Artist Award Winner for Dance is Thabo Rapoo and he presents two works: Ken Arok (première) and eMandulo. The first comes out of his three-month sabbatical in Indonesia and the second, inspired by his mother, deals with the importance of women in traditional African society.
Dada Masilo’s Carmen, with music by Rodion Shchedrin and presented by The Dance Factory, promises to stoke the fires this extraordinary dancer/choreographer lit at previous festivals in Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet.
Dressed and staged in black and white, Zebra is a collaboration between PJ Sabbagha of The Forgotten Angle Theatre Company (South Africa) and Ivan Estegneev of the Dialogue Dance Company and School (Russia). Performers Daniel Mashita, Ivan Teme, Songezo Mcilizeli, Ivan Estegneev and Sergey Kremnev use the language of the body to confront the issues of male identity.
In Threads, the performers have to negotiate strings and ropes stretched across the stage representing restrictive social forces. The piece features spoken verse by poet Lebo Mashile, who devised the work for Moving into Dance Mophatong with veteran choreographer and cultural activist Sylvia Magogo Glasser.
The traditional ravanne drums do the talking in Mâ Ravan’, an exciting and different presentation by Theatre Taliipot from Réunion Island. Memories of the ancestors on the Mother Continent across the sea echo in their music and dance rituals. And, here at home, the East Cape Ensemble keeps the memories and traditions alive with a feast of song and dance. The large cast is richly costumed and the music and performance is designed to delight.
Continuing the Festival’s engagement with dance from the Indian sub-continent, this year’s programme, Manipuri Folk Dance, features the renowned Sruti Bandopadhay with 11 performers in richly decorated costumes. Originating in India’s north-eastern state, there are dances to celebrate special moments and ceremonies, all characterised by lyrical grace.
The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The Eastern Cape Government, The National Arts Council, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and The Sunday Independent. It will run from July 2 to 11, 2009, in Grahamstown. For more information visit www.nationalartsfestival.co.za
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