NAF: SWAN LAKE

Dada Masilo’s brilliant choreography displays the beauty of contemporary dance with her sharp movements. (Review by Sifiso Sikhakhane)

Since the beginning of the National Arts Festival, the audiences have been awaiting the great Dada Masilo’s production, Swan Lake. Not having seen Masilo’s work before, I hurriedly booked my ticket 14 days before the production came down to Grahamstown.

Masilo has been winning the hearts of her audiences for a period of time, especially after receiving the 2007 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for dance. Last year at the festival, her production of Carmen played to full house audiences and this year’s show; Swan Lake made a good impression as well.

In Swan Lake, Masilo creates a contemporary dance story which tackles homophobia and what it means to be an African. The story line proved to be humorous in the beginning and employing a more serious attitude towards the end. Masilo’s choreography for the pieces is brilliant. She displayed the beauty of contemporary dance with her sharp movements. Elements of African contemporary were presented as well and the audience was charmed by this exquisite piece of art.

Swan Lake was presented at the NAF main programme by Dance Factory. – Sifiso Sikhakhane