(Pic: Vincent Mantsoe with Romain Cappello and Desire Davids)Elements of spiritually upmost in piece about individuality and community. (Review by Sifiso Sikhakhane)
When I heard that Vincent Mantsoe will be presenting one of his works at this year’s National Arts Festival, I made it a point not to miss this highly respected South African contemporary dance choreographer and dancer.
I was only introduced to his style whilst studying dance in High School and since then, I have been yearning to see one of his works.
San, presented on the main programme of this year’s National Arts Festival by The Dance Forum, did not contaminate what I have always felt about Vincent Mantsoe’s work. He still remains one of the gods of contemporary dance, even though it is very difficult to describe his style. Commenting on his style of moving, Mantsoe says, “It’s something that goes beyond technique- it brings elements of spirituality.”
Spirituality is one of the things I noticed in San, especially when Mantsoe goes into a trance-like state whilst moving; stamping on the ground like the khoi San and uttering sounds which made it seem as if he was speaking in tongues. I was mesmerized…stunned by this magical performance.
The other performers - Cecile Maubert-Mantsoe (France), Desire Davids (South Africa, and well-known to KZN dance lovers), Romain Cappello (France), and Sara Cerneaux (Reunion) - also did a very plausible job. The different training they have, contributed to the exquisiteness of the piece. You could tell by the way Mantsoe moves that his style carries a global influence, from Classical Ballet to Tai Chi.
San, a dance which interprets the journey and struggle of the nomadic Khoi- San people, reflects on how Mantsoe is still deeply rooted in his heritage; acknowledging its importance even though he now lives and works in France. The piece talks about both individuality and community. This makes the piece more about the human experience rather than particularly about the Khoi- San.
Mantsoe uses poetry from Rumi and Iranian music; using traditional Persian instruments.
People left the Alec Mullins venue still hungry for more. Let us hope to see more of Mantsoe’s work at the National Arts Festival. – Sifiso Sikhakhane
Posts
