IMBOKODO

(Thobeka Ntanzi, Lungelwa Radebe and Noluthando Kubheka)

Riveting DUT dance piece by Mdu Mtshali. (Review by Philisiwe Sithole)

Recently performed at the Durban University of Technology’s Courtyard Theatre before it appeared on the recent Dance Umbrella festival in Johannesburg, Imbokodo is a riveting and moving dance piece. It is choreographed by DUT Drama Studies Dance lecturer Mdu Mtshali with 3rd year students of the DUT Drama Studies programme.

Featuring poetry by Genbia Hyla and Sifanelesibonge Mtshali, the piece is mainly about the scrutiny of abuse towards women. It’s also about women peeling their skin in securing their place in society - women are being raped almost every second in South Africa. The piece profoundly emphasized the pain they go through and also exemplifies that a rapist could be any one - a lover, a friend, a gangster…

There is a collaboration of spoken word in the piece just emphasizing vocally the process of rape. I find the piece is separated into two worlds. In the first part, a naked figure (April Mkhize) dances in an abstract form creating an image of women who are raped but die inside because they do not voice their experiences. Instead, they cocoon themselves in a little corner as a protecting shield.

The other section was more technical and directed a duet (TK and Ntando) which presented women facing the abuse together and making a choice of revealing their status and doing something about their rape.

There is minimal lightning in the piece, reflecting the darkness of the subject matter. There is reflection of shadows in the piece to emphasize the pain.

The cast includes Lungelwa Radebe; Zinhle Khanyile; Thobeka Ntanzi; Noluthando Kubheka; Sifanelesibonge Mtshali; Charles Zulu; Londiwe Ngwazi; Ntonhle Mtolo and Professor Nqakula.– Philisiwe Sithole