MAYHEM

Grahamstown: July 3, 2012 – Review by Sifiso Sikhakhane

Lip- Smacking Sheer Brilliance …

If you missed out on the sheer brilliance presented at this year’s National Arts Festival by the legendary Gregory Maqoma and award winning Luyanda Sidiya, then I pity you. After watching Mayhem twice, I still yearn some more ... yes, it was just that brilliant!

First on the programme was Sidiya’s Umnikelo “Offering” which, of course, was very well received by the audience for both nights. This illuminating dance piece performed to live music took African contemporary dance to new heights. There were no pauses; the dancers kept on feeding us with more and more lip-smacking moves. The piece was very athletic, legs flying high in the air, and gorgeous partner work. I sat there throughout the show thinking to myself, “This is so worth every penny I’ve spent, and more!”

Gregory Maqoma describes Mayhem as a reflection on our altered state of mind, our confusion, the madness, the feeling of being in suspense in this confined space, a mental institution where we are left with a body of work that strips away the beauty and gives us a mirror to interrogate ourselves, our actions.

I can proudly say that Mayhem is by far the best dance production I’ve seen at this year’s festival and I wait to see whether or not other productions will be able to match up to these standards set by these two phenomenal choreographers. To add on to their slew of awards, Vuyani Dance Theatre leaves this year’s festival with a 2012 Ovation award which they much deserve. Bravo to the Mayhem team which worked very hard to bring us this magic to this year’s festival stage.

Mayhem was presented at the 2012 National Arts Festival by Vuyani Dance Theatre, under the choreography of Luyanda Sidiya and Gregory Maqoma. The production was performed at the Gymnasium between June 28 and July 1. - Sifiso Sikhakhane